The City of Sonoma: Partnerships sustain us

I recently submitted the following for consideration of publication in the Sonoma Valley Sun:

As anyone who lives in or visits Sonoma knows, there are many things that make Sonoma a special place. As we reach the end of 2008, and as I near the conclusion of my first year as your City Manager, I’d like to share what makes Sonoma special from my perspective – our ability to form and sustain successful and mutually-beneficial partnerships. Indeed, in Sonoma more so than in some other locations, partnerships sustain our economy, our community, and increasingly, our environment.

In these challenging financial times, the City needs to strengthen and rely on its partnerships more than ever. No city is an island nor does a city operate in a vacuum. And gone are the days when the government could determine the destiny of a community through its actions. The power of local taxation has been limited by voter initiatives, and thus cities need to make the most of existing revenue sources by leveraging relationships in the community to our collective advantage. In Sonoma, we need to take pride in and support those key economic and community partnerships that have made us strong and will keep us strong into the future.

The City-County-Chamber Economic Partnership has brought benefits within and beyond our borders. The City’s redevelopment agency and the County’s redevelopment agency have committed resources which help keep our local economy strong. Numerous local businesses have benefitted from façade facelifts and business improvement loans available from our locally-generated City redevelopment tax. In addition, the Partnership supports local businesses by providing business education, resources, and networking opportunities.

The City partners with the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau to support the mission of keeping Sonoma Valley an attractive place and a desirable destination. The Visitors Bureau answers questions, provides resources, and is a welcoming presence offering guidance to visitors that the City could not provide on its own.

The City enjoys beneficial public safety partnerships with the Valley of the Moon Fire District and with the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department, relationships that take advantage of economies of scale to deliver essential services to our residents. Through the Sonoma Valley Fire and Rescue Joint Powers Authority, we have been able to garner more grant funding than either fire agency could separately. Further, our partnership with Infineon Raceway for fire and medical services at the track provides benefits to the racing community as well as to the greater local community.

To address the gang problem, our Police Department has a partnership with the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office and the Valley of the Moon Boys and Girls Club, called the Gang Resistance Education and Training program, a school-based, law enforcement officer-instructed classroom curriculum of gang prevention. In addition, our Police have further partnered with the Sonoma Valley Unified School District and Sunny Hills Services to provide community engagement and youth development courses at the high school, also to focus on the gang issue.

The City has partnered to provide Sonoma Valley Hospital community development funding for some of its necessary infrastructure repairs. The City has partnered with many local agencies and organizations on the new Sonoma Disaster Council, exchanging resources and information to work toward improved communications and coordination in the event of disasters and wide-scale emergencies.

Recreational and cultural services are provided through non-profit partnerships that the City enjoys with such worthy organizations as the Boys and Girls Club, Sonoma Community Center, the Vintage House and the Sonoma Ecology Center. The City has chosen to support existing established social and recreational programming networks rather than incur the expense of creating its own department to fulfill these essential community needs.

For the future, tackling the issue of global warming locally is going to take new partnerships to effectively address and create lasting environmental benefits. Ecological issues are complex and do not stop at city borders, and in Sonoma Valley, we all breathe the same air and drink the same water. The potential for changing weather patterns affects us all and we need to work together to address its effects, both from an environmental and a disaster preparedness perspective.

We have already proven the success of working together in several partnerships. No organization can tackle the overwhelming issues of our time – sustainability in our economy and our environment – by working alone. I know that whatever economic or environmental challenges lie ahead, we can handle them as a community sustained by active and mutually-beneficial partnerships.

The sum is greater than its parts. I look forward to spending more time focusing on the sustainable partnerships that support our community. There is nothing we cannot accomplish by continuing to work together for the benefit of all of us.

Linda Kelly can be reached at 933-2215 or lkelly@sonomacity.org.

Holiday hours at City Hall

Please note that City Hall will close at Noon on Dec. 24th, will be closed for Christmas Day, Dec. 25th, and open Dec. 26th. We will also be closed for New Year's Day on Jan. 1st. Happy Holidays to everyone!

The next regular City Council meeting will be held on January 21st. The January 7th meeting has been canceled for a winter break.

Building Permit Applications update.

Sonoma Development Services Director/Building Official Wayne Wirick has announced that building permit applications can now be filled out online, printed and signed by the applicant and then mailed or faxed to the City's Building Department. The application is located on the City’s web site under City Departments, Building, Forms or at the following link: http://www.sonomacity.org/Uploads/17435.pdf

For more information, please contact the Building Department at 938-3681.

Holiday Safety Tips

Holiday safety tips from Fire Chief Phillip Garcia:

Install a smoke detector or new batteries in the one(s) you have and TEST it.

Use only outdoor lights outside your home.

Examine light strings each year, discard worn ones.

Fasten the bulbs securely and point the sockets down to avoid moisture buildup.

Connect no more than three strands together.

Never use indoor extension cords outside.

Avoid overloading wall outlets and extension cords.

Keep outdoor electrical connectors above ground and out of puddles.

CHRISTMAS TREE SAFETY TIPS

• A real tree should not lose green needles when you tap it on the ground.
• Cut 1 inch off the trunk to help it absorb water.
• Leave the tree outside until ready to decorate.
• The stand should hold at least 1 gallon of water.
• A 6' tree will use 1 gallon of water every two days.
• Mix a commercial preservative with the water.
• Check the water level every day.
• Secure the tree with wire to keep it from tipping.
• Keep tree away from floor heaters, fire places, or other heat sources.
• Use only UL-approved lights and no more than 3 strands linked together.
• Use miniature lights—which have cool-burning bulbs.
• Turn off the holiday lights when you sleep or if you leave your home for very long.
• Never use candles, even on artificial trees.
• Clean the tree stand to improve the tree's water intake; use one capful of bleach to a cup of water.
• Dispose of the tree properly. NEVER BURN CHRISTMAS TREES IN A FIREPLACE!

Dec. 17th Council Meeting

The agenda and packet for the December 17th Council meeting has now been posted on-line at:
http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=50
Note that the pdf file for the agenda packet is bookmarked so that the bookmark feature in Adobe Acrobat will help you navigate through the packet item by item.

Water Study Session

A Water Study Session of the City Council, Planning Commission and Community Services and Environment Commission has been scheduled for Wednesday, December 10th at 6 p.m. City staff and the Sonoma County Water Agency will be presenting information regarding the water system and supply, demand projections, and water planning and development issues. The meeting will take place at the Sonoma Community Center located at 276 E Napa Street, and public participation is encouraged.

A report which provides the background for the meeting is available on the City's website at this link http://www.sonomacity.org/uploads/Water/Water%20Study%20Session.pdf

New Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem

Appointments and leadership positions selected at the December 3rd Council meeting:

Congratulations to Mayor Ken Brown and Mayor Pro Tem Steve Barbose for being selected by the City Council serve as Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem for the next year. Each year, the City Council selects Councilmembers to serve in these important leadership roles.

Congratulations also to Councilmember Joanne Sanders on completing her successful year as Mayor of Sonoma.

Councilmember Laurie Gallian joined the Council as a new Councilmember and was sworn in at the December 3rd meeting along with Councilmember Joanne Sanders, each for a four-year term of office.

Congratulations to Stanley Cohen for completing a successful term on the Council. We wish him the best in his future endeavors.

Dec. 3rd City Council meeting agenda posted

The agenda and packet for the December 3rd Council meeting are posted at this link:
http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=50. This is Councilmember Stanley Cohen's last meeting, and Councilmembers Laurie Gallian and Joanne Sanders will be sworn into office, each for a four-year term as Councilmember. We will have a brief reception celebrating these milestones.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

E-Waste Event

The County of Sonoma and Friedman's Home Improvement are sponsoring an E-Waste drive on Dec. 13th and 14th. Click the image to view the details.

"Buy Local Day" Nov. 28th

The Sonoma City Council has proclaimed November 28, the day after Thanksgiving, as "Buy Local Day" to encourage residents to "think Sonoma first" when shopping for the holiday season.

The day after Thanksgiving is traditionally considered the beginning of the holiday shopping season and is typically one of the busiest shopping days of the year. It is known as "Black Friday" because it is the beginning of the crucial period in which retailers hope to be in the black (i.e. turning a profit).

The City Council's proclamation highlighted the many benefits to the community of shopping locally, including keeping dollars re-circulating in the local economy, fostering local job creation and retention, embracing what makes Sonoma unique and special, preserving entrepreneurship, helping the environment by reducing auto emissions, and supporting the businesses that support many local schools and nonprofits.

Despite Sonoma Valley's relative economic health compared to other communities, many local retailers have faced a significant drop in sales and are reliant on the holiday season to help them pull through into 2009.

The Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce will provide a free "Shop Sonoma Valley" tote bag to each local shopper who brings in a receipt from a local store or restaurant from Black Friday. Tote bags can be picked up at the Chamber at 651 Broadway beginning on Wednesday, December 3rd.

In addition to "thinking Sonoma first" when shopping, local residents are also encouraged to "think Sonoma last". This means when you are comparison shopping for major purchases, giving the local business a chance to match the price you've found elsewhere prior to making your purchase.

November 19th agenda posted

The City Council agenda and packet for the November 19th meeting is now posted:
http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=50

Upcoming Special Meetings

The City Council’s Cemetery Subcommittee is hosting a special Town Hall meeting on Thursday, December 4th at 5 p.m. to receive public opinion and input regarding the future of the City’s cemeteries. The City of Sonoma owns and operates three public cemeteries, the Mountain Cemetery, the Valley Cemetery and the Veterans Cemetery. The Cemetery Subcommittee, headed by Council Members August Sebastiani and Mayor Pro Tem Ken Brown, is interested in public sentiment on whether the cemeteries should remain as public assets owned by the City of Sonoma, or whether privatization of any or all of the cemeteries should be considered. The meeting will take place at the Community Meeting Room located at 177 First Street West, and public participation is encouraged.

A Water Study Session of the City Council, Planning Commission and Community Services and Environment Commission has been scheduled for Wednesday, December 10th at 6 p.m. City staff and the Sonoma County Water Agency will be presenting information regarding the water system and supply, demand projections, and water planning and development issues. The meeting will take place at the Sonoma Community Center located at 276 E Napa Street, and public participation is encouraged.

Blog news

I was recently notified that my blog is being featured with a list of 20 City Manager blogs on the International City-County Management Association (ICMA) website on a page to showcase the blogs of local government professionals across the country. For now, the page can be found here http://icma.org/main/bc.asp?bcid=1028&hsid=1&ssid1=2505&ssid2=3044

Next Sonoma Disaster Council meeting

The next Sonoma Disaster Council meeting will be held on Thursday, November 13 at 3:30 p.m. in the Police Department EOC room. On the agenda will be a debrief of the Countywide Silver Sentinel Disaster Preparedness Exercise, a presentation from Joe Morrison of the Fire Department regarding a new SCOPE – Sonoma Citizens Organized to Prepare for Emergencies program, modeled after the City of Santa Rosa’s program, an update from John Saguto of the American Red Cross regarding recent disaster recovery efforts and trainings, and an update on our public access defibrillator program. The meeting is open to the public.

November 5th Agenda Packet posted

Click here to access the City Council November 5th Agenda and packet documents. The pdf is bookmarked for the packet, to make it easier to navigate.
http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=50

Volunteer Sonoma!

Please click the image to view the flyer about the Volunteer Sonoma event on Nov. 6th.

Upcoming Special Meetings of the City Council

The City Council has scheduled two special meetings in December to cover two issue areas:

Cemetery Subcommittee joint concurrent meeting with the City Council - Thursday, December 4th at 5 p.m. in the Community Meeting Room. The purpose of the meeting will be to hear community input regarding keeping the City's cemeteries as publicly-owned assets or privatizing the cemeteries in some way.

Joint City Council - Planning Commission meeting on Water Issues - Wednesday, December 10th at 6 p.m. in the Fire Station Training Room. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss water supply issues as related to development and future water needs projections.

Both meetings are open to the public and participation is encouraged.

City or Town?

Your Opinion Counts! Following a discussion item at the October 15th City Council meeting, at the request of Councilmember August Sebastiani, the City of Sonoma is considering changing its name from "City of Sonoma" to "Town of Sonoma." The community would still remain an incorporated municipality and there would be no legal implications. A community's name is a reflection of its identity, and we are asking for residents to provide input on this issue. Residents of Sonoma are asked to participate in the following on-poll as one gauge of community sentiment:
Click here to cast your vote!
You can also leave a comment on the poll if you'd like.

Next Council meeting

Our next regular Council meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 5th at 6 p.m. The agenda packet will be posted on line on Oct. 31st.

Sister Cities Conference

People are inquiring why the flag of Japan is being flown in front of City Hall. This weekend, Sonoma is host to the Northern California Chapter of Sister Cities International as they hold their 32nd Annual Conference. Featured speakers are the Consul General of Egypt Ambassador Dr. Hesham Nakib and the Consul General of Japan Yasumasa Nagamine.

Oct. 15th meeting materials posted

The agenda and packet for the City Council meeting of October 15th are now posted at the following link:
http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=50

Fire Department Open House, Sunday, Oct. 26th

Join the family fun at the Sonoma Valley Firefighter's annual open house on Sunday October 26th, from noon to 4:00 p.m. There will be rides on the antique fire engine, cookies and other treats, and fire safety displays and demonstrations. The open house is at Fire Station #1, 630 Second Street West.

Next Council meeting

The next City Council meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 15th. The agenda and packet will be posted on the City website on Friday, October 10th.

Mayor's Office hours with Police Chief - Oct. 18th

Mayor Joanne Sanders has announced that she will hold a special "Open Office Hour" where she will be joined by Police Chief Bret Sackett. The Mayor explained that she planned the session "In order to be accessible to folks I may have missed with my weekly office hours and to enable people to meet and share concerns first hand with their Police Chief." It will be held on Saturday October 18, 2008 from 10:00 -11:30 a.m. at City Hall in the downstairs Council office. Visitors will be seen on a first come-first served basis or may call in advance to schedule a ten minute appointment. To schedule an appointment, contact Debra Rogers at 933-2218.

The Mayor has been conducting the once a week office hour since taking over as Mayor last December and has found it to be a highly effective forum for communicating with constituents. They are held every Monday between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. Due to attendance at an out of town conference on October 6 and the observance by City Hall of the Columbus Day Holiday on October 13, the regular office hour will not be held for the next two weeks, and will resume on Monday, October 20.

Oct. 1st agenda packet

The agenda and packet materials for the City Council meeting of Oct. 1st are posted at the following link:
http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=50

Next City Council meeting

The next regular Council meeting will be held on Wed. Oct. 1st at 6 p.m. The meeting will follow a study session on the proposed public art ordinance at 4:30 p.m. that afternoon. We will post the Council agenda on-line on Friday, Sept. 26th.

Cemetery Subcommittee

The City Council has created a subcommittee to study the City's three cemetery operations for the purpose of reviewing financial sustainability and whether the cemeteries should/can be privatized. The first meeting will be held on September 23rd and is open to the public. Click to view the agenda.

New on-line Green Business Network

Attention all businesses wanting to learn more about "going green": A Green Business Network has been created, sponsored by the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce and PG&E, in conjunction with the Joint City-County-Chamber Economic Development Program. Click here learn more and to join the network:
http://www.sonomachamber.com/green/

City Hall hours

City Hall staff is moving back into City Hall this weekend, and City Hall will be closed to the public on Monday, September 15th, for unpacking. We will open again for regular business on Tuesday, September 16th at 8 a.m.

Sept. 17th Council meeting

The agenda and packet for the City Council meeting of Wed., Sept. 17th are now posted on the following page:
http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=50

City Hall Celebration Sept. 2nd

Come join in the 100th Anniversary Celebration of Sonoma City Hall on Tuesday, September 9th starting at 5:30 p.m. in front of City Hall, coinciding with the Farmers Market! The ceremony and birthday cake will take place from 5:30 - 6:00 p.m., with an open house of the newly refurbished City Hall happening from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Update from Caltrans on Route 12 paving

The California Department of Transportation announced the Route 12 paving and electrical work was completed last week through the City of Sonoma. Crews will be back onsite Tuesday, September 2 through Friday, September 5 to seal the roadway. Crews are scheduled to be onsite and enforce the no parking signage between the hours of 6 p.m. to10 a.m. throughout the work zone. Each sign will have a timeline indicated as to when the no parking will be in affect. Crews and flaggers will be onsite until the project is complete.

MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO TAKE ALTERNATE ROUTES IF NEEDED
For more information contact Alicia Sequeira of Caltrans at (510) 286-6115.

Sept. 3rd Council Meeting

The Sept. 3rd City Council meeting agenda and packet are now posted at:
http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=50

Bicycle Festival!

On Saturday, September 6th from 1-5 p.m., the "Sonoma Springs Bicycle Festival" will be held, as celebration of bicycling for the entire family. The festival will feature:

• A Cycling Safety tips booth
• A kids' helmet giveaway (helmets provided by Sonoma County Safe Kids)
• A bus so you can practice putting your bike on the bus rack
• A bike light giveaway
• Inspiring speakers
• Games and contests for kids and adults
• Live music
• Local food vendors
• Booths by local bike and bike-friendly groups
• Free valet bike parking
• A public ride around Sonoma and the Springs area

The event is sponsored by The Red Grape Restaurant, Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition, Sonoma Valley Cyclists and the City of Sonoma. Click on the image to view the poster.

August 20th Council Meeting packet posted

Click here to view the agenda and packet for the City Council meeting of August 20th:
http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=50

Press Release - Council Election

Please click on the image to view.

City Meetings Update

Please note that the regular meeting of the Disaster Council - scheduled for August 14th - has been cancelled for a summer break. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 11th at 3:30 p.m.

The next meeting of the City Council will be held on August 20th. The agenda packet for this meeting will be posted on the City's website this Friday.

The State Budget and Sonoma: Navigating the tough times

As we read the headlines these days we see that the State of California continues to struggle with its budgetary woes, and the Governor and Legislature have not been able to reach an agreement on how to close the multi-billion dollar shortfall. Residents of Sonoma have a right to be concerned about how the State’s budget impasse and ongoing financial problems may affect their own city’s finances and the impact on their local services.

The State of California is in a crisis of immense proportions. As such, the Governor is considering reneging on the promise made not to raid local government coffers to balance the State’s budget. Voters may recall that in 2004 Proposition 1A was passed with overwhelming support to keep local governments fiscally strong by limiting the State’s ability to take money designated for local governments. Despite this constitutional amendment, the latest State budget balancing proposal calls for “borrowing” local tax dollars. Under the latest proposal, the impact to the City of Sonoma would be upwards of approximately $400,000 for this year. It is unknown at this time how many years the borrowing would continue to take place and in what amounts. The State has in the past relied on its ability to use local government funding to balance its budget. According to a report by the League of California Cities, the State of California has cumulatively taken from the City of Sonoma $5.1 million in revenue since 1991.

How would the latest State budget proposal impact Sonoma? I recently read a budget reference by a city official who stated, “The decisions you make in good times are more important than the decisions you make in bad times.” I believe this statement applies to the City of Sonoma’s ability to withstand the current economic downturn and the State’s fiscal malaise.

Residents should be aware that a combination of good fiscal planning, proactive revenue enhancement, prudent management of existing resources, and wise decisions in “good times” have placed the City of Sonoma in the position of being able to withstand economic ups and downs. The following nine-point explanation will hopefully also answer those questions from residents inquiring whether Sonoma is under any threat of a financial scenario that the City of Vallejo is now facing.

Overall, the City budgets conservatively, which means we do not optimistically over-predict our revenue nor underestimate our expenditures. This has placed us in the sound position of producing a balanced budget year after year. Secondly, the City has wisely developed over the years an emergency reserve and an operating reserve. Simply put, these are funds set aside in a “savings account” to provide for fiscal stability and are available in times of emergency, plus this policy allows the City to maintain an excellent bond rating and favorable terms when borrowing. Thirdly, the City’s solid revenue stream from local sales tax and transient occupancy (lodging) tax is not the result of luck, but rather from the proactive partnerships that the City cultivates with our local businesses through the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau. Fourth, in “good times,” current and prior City Councils chose not to enhance our city employees’ pension plan. When many other agencies were moving to an enhanced retirement system in the late 1990s and early 2000s, our City Council chose to continue with the basic “2% at 55 miscellaneous” plan under the California Public Employees Retirement System. This decision has kept our retirement costs manageable. Fifth, wise risk management has meant that our premiums for workers compensation and general liability insurance have remained predictable and our losses have been favorable. Sixth, we have taken advantage of regionalization with respect to public safety services as a means of achieving economies of scale. Our contract with the Sheriff’s Department for police services has kept our police budget more predictable and our Sonoma Valley Fire and Rescue Authority partnership has meant more and flexible resources at our disposal while allowing for shared administration, enhanced staff coverage and equipment, along with cost containment. Seventh, the City is leanly staffed and did not enlarge its employee base to unsustainable proportions during the “good times,” and thus is not facing lay-offs to adjust to the reality of the “tough times.” Eighth, the City has wisely used redevelopment funding mechanisms to enhance our local economy through commercial rehabilitation loans to local businesses and through capital projects that do not require general fund (discretionary) dollars. Finally, the City Council has reacted to the current economic downturn and the potential State raid on our finances by amending our two-year budget by recently adjusting our general fund expenditures downward for the second year. Our Council has also recently taken a hard look at the use of consultants on special projects and directed staff to seek ways of reducing expenditures on projects and studies.

Because of these and other wise fiscal policies and choices made in the “good times,” I feel confident that the City of Sonoma will be able to continue to provide our residents the same level of services they have come to expect, should the State decide to dip into the pocketbooks of local government. Should the borrowing scenario come to pass over multiple years, I would ask the City Council lead us in re-examining any special projects or discretionary expenditures for future years, reconsider our planned spending on mandatory services versus discretionary projects, engage our employee unions in a conversation about the fiscal situation, seek ways to continue to partner with other local agencies including the County on cost-sharing and regionalization of services, and as an absolute last resort, consider utilizing, and then replenishing, our own operating reserve which has been set aside as a cushion in the event of financial adversity.

The City of Sonoma has been prudent in its financial management and we have lived within our means. To withstand the uncertain economy and the State’s looking locally to solve its problems, we will need to continue on our conservative fiscal course. We need to continue to be ever mindful of the threats to our financial stability while maximizing our locally-grown revenue sources including sales tax and transient occupancy tax. Ultimately, we need to stand by those decisions made and the policies we put into place during the “good times” so that we can make it through the tough times imposed by the State government and our national economy.

I appreciate the opportunity to make this statement about our City’s financial situation and I welcome any questions from residents and community members at lkelly@sonomacity.org. Residents may view the City’s budget at www.sonomacity.org, click on City departments, Finance and personnel.

Next City Council meeting date

Please note that the next regular City Council meeting will be held on August 20th. The August 6th Council meeting was cancelled for the Council's summer break. A special closed session City Council meeting is scheduled for August 13th for performance evaluations of the City Attorney and the City Manager.

The agenda and packet for the August 20th regular City Council meeting will be posted on the City's website on August 15th.

Thank you Community Center!

Many thanks to the Sonoma Community Center for hosting the annual City Party on Tuesday night. Here is a photo of the band Crossfire entertaining the large crowd with many favorite dance tunes.

Community Wildfire Protection Meeting

Click the press release to read about an upcoming meeting sponsored by Fire Safe Sonoma regarding a Community Wildfire Protection Plan, on Aug. 6th from 7-9 p.m. at the Sonoma Fire Station, 630 2nd Street West.

Next City Council Meeting

The City Council meeting of August 6th has been cancelled for a summer break. The next regular City Council meeting will be held on August 20th at 6:00 p.m.

Actions from the Council meeting of July 16th

At its regular meeting of July 16th, the City Council's actions included the following:

• Recognized the following Sonoma businesses for their participation in the Green Business Recognition Program: El Pueblo Inn, Friedman's Home Improvement, Wine Country Film Festival, Barking Dog Roasters, Sonoma Valley Bank and Haus.
• Approved a continuation of the City-Chamber-County Joint Economic Development Program for another two years, with the City's financial contribution to the partnership lowered as a result of the County picking up a greater share of the cost with respect to the program's assistance to the Springs.
• Awarded a consultant contract to Natural Logic of Berkeley to assist with implementing the City's environmental sustainability goals and resource conservation efforts, in an amount not to exceed $30,000.
  
• Awarded a bid for the City Hall and Police Facility parking lot rehabilitation project to Pipeline Excavators, the lowest responsible bidder, in the amount of $181,823.
• Due to the City Hall parking lot rehabilitation project (above), authorized the Public Works Director to relocate the Tuesday night Farmers' Market to public street frontage on First Street East and First Street West (on Aug. 5th and 19th).
• Approved the Community Services and Environment Commission recommendation to co-sponsor with Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition a "Bike Rally" at Depot Park on Saturday, September 6, 2008.
• Approved a lease agreement to allow for the development of petanque courts at Depot Park.
• Considered further modifications to the draft Mobile Home Conversion Ordinance, per the request of Council Member Barbose, and directed staff to add language to the ordinance indicating that a conversion to homeowner ownership is not to be undertaken for the purpose of avoiding rent control. The amended ordinance will be brought back to the Council meeting of August 20th.
• Reviewed year two of the City's two-year budget and authorized major budget amendments to undertake environmental remediation of the old fire station, the City Hall renovation, and demolition of existing buildings at an site proposed for future affordable housing. The Council also adopted amendments adjusting General Fund expenditures downward by approximately $50,000 less than planned, in order to maintain a conservative fiscal approach in light of the State of California's budget crisis and its potential impact on city governments.
• Decided to allow property owners in the former assessment districts of Fryer Creek and Sonoma Valley Oaks to apply for refunds on prior assessments paid. All residents in these areas will be receiving letters from the City within the next two weeks regarding this matter.
• Directed staff to draft an ordinance providing for expanded neighbor and public notification requirements for new single family homes and residential additions in the Historic Overlay Zone, requested by Council Member Barbose.

Student Art Contest

The 100^th City Hall Commemoration Committee, lead by City Historian George McKale, is seeking entries for a student art contest to come up with the official poster for the 100^th City Hall Anniversary Celebration. The contest is open to all Sonoma Valley students grades K through 12. Additional information and the entry forms are available at City Hall (City Clerk’s Office) or may be downloaded by clicking here.

Students have until July 31^st to submit their artwork.

July 16th City Council agenda packet posted

The meeting agenda and packet for the City Council's July 16th meeting is now available for viewing at the following link:
http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=50
The major discussion items are as follows:

• Consideration of further modifications to the mobile home conversion ordinance, requested by Council Member Barbose
• Mid-Term Budget Review and Adjustments for Fiscal Year 2008-09
• Consideration of refunding assessments to residents in the former landscape assessment districts
• Discussion of public notice for design review of new residences and residential additions in the historic overlay zone, requested by Council Member Barbose

Place to "cool off" at the Vintage House

Please take note that the Vintage House Senior Center, 996-0311, 264 First Street East, will stay open later upon request to serve as a "cooling center" if needed for community members - seniors or any age - to have a cool place to go in the heat. People should arrive or call the Vintage House by 4 p.m. if they need evening hour services.

County approves $400K in funding to City for utility undergrounding

Please click the image to read the press release.

Excessive Heat Warning Issued

The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES) and the National Weather Service have updated the "Heat Advisory" criteria to " An Excessive Heat Warning" until Friday, July 9th, 2008 for Sonoma County (and the greater Bay Area) due to the hot weather we are experiencing.

Per National Weather "an Excessive Heat Warning means that a prolonged period of dangerously hot temperatures will occur. This excessive heat warning is being issued utilizing a new heat health warning system. It is targeted at the elderly or infirmed, who might be much more sensitive to heat and thus at greater risk. Individuals who fall into this category should be especially careful by drinking plenty of water, reducing outdoor exposure, staying out of the sun, seeking a cooler location for the day if no air conditioning is available in the living quarters, and asking a friend or relative to check on you frequently."

The following temperatures are forecast for Sonoma County during this heat event:

Wed (7/9) - Areas of smoke. Sunny and hot, with a high near 101. Calm wind becoming west southwest between 6 and 9 mph. Evening temp of 65.

Thurs (7/10) - Areas of smoke. Sunny and hot, with a high near 100. Calm wind becoming west southwest between 6 and 9 mph. Evening temp of 62.

Friday (7/11) - Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. South southwest wind between 3 and 11 mph. Evening temp of 52.

Sat/Sun - Sunny, with a high near 84.

The coast should see temperatures in the 70s - 80s.

A Smoke Advisory still remains in place for those with heart or lung disease (see County Home page for more info or http://www.sonoma-county.org/health/ph/news/20080624smoke.htm).

Remember to stay hydrated and cool, and do not leave small children or animals in vehicles. For more heat emergency tips go to Sonoma County's Public Health Preparedness website at: http://www.sonoma-county.org/health/ph/phpreparedness/heat/

The California Independent System Operator requests that people be sure to conserve energy - so we don't overload the system.

The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) is forecasting very high demands throughout the state during this entire week. To help alleviate the stress on the system, PG&E has already activated the Critical Peak Pricing (CPP) Program, which is part of PG&E's demand response portfolio. In addition, PG&E requests that all customers voluntarily reduce any additional usage possible from 12:00 Noon to 6:00 PM to help prevent the need for the CAISO to declare an emergency. PG&E thanks you in advance for your efforts to reduce load and help maintain electrical supply reliability.

Disaster Council meeting

The next regular meeting of the Sonoma Disaster Council will be held on Thursday, July 10th at 3:30 p.m. Click the image to view the agenda. The meeting is open to everyone.

4th of July Fireworks Display!

Click the image to read the press release regarding the annual fireworks show. Thank you to Sonoma Valley Fire and Rescue Volunteer Firefighters Association for organizing the spectacular show. We have received some calls regarding the safety of the show in fire season. The firefighters take many precautions in putting on the show and will only present the show if they are certain that it can be executed in a safe manner, given the weather conditions and other factors. The show is paid for through donations and we thank everyone who has donated toward the cost of the show!

Agenda packet for July 2nd Council meeting posted

The meeting agenda and packet materials for the City Council meeting of Wednesday, July 2nd are now posted on-line at the following link:
http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=50

Health Advisory regarding air quality

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued a health advisory on air quality due to the smoke from wildfires. Click on the image to read the 2-page advisory.

Fire Safety

No doubt the number of fires burning in recent weeks throughout California has everyone concerned. Fire Safe Sonoma is an organization dedicated to education and awareness of fire safety. The Fire Safe Sonoma website contains a very informative booklet for downloading, entitled "Living with Fire in Sonoma County," which addresses practical tips for homeowners on defensible space, bursh clearance and general fire safety and awareness. The booklet can be downloaded from http://www.firesafesonoma.org/ and the cover page image is posted here for your information.

Mayor's Office hours in new location

Due to the temporary move of City Hall staff to the old fire station at 32 Patten Street at Broadway during renovations of City Hall, Mayor Joanne Sanders will hold her weekly office hours at Bolt Staffing, 955 Broadway, from June 30 through September 15, 2008. The Mayor's public office hours are every Monday between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. (holidays excepted).

Special City Council meeting tonight (Wed.)

The Council is holding a special meeting tonight at 5 p.m. in the City Hall in the upstairs conference room to award the bid for the City Hall renovation project. The agenda and packet can be downloaded from this link
http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=50

City Hall renovations to take place this Summer

Please take note that City Hall will close for renovations during an eight-to-ten week period in July, August, and early September. During this time, City Hall staff will temporarily relocate to 32 Patten Street, at Broadway, in the former Fire Station building. Departments included in this relocation are Finance and Personnel, Building, Planning, City Clerk and City Manager. The 100-year old City Hall will receive re-painting, re-carpeting, refinishing of woodwork, ADA upgrades and minor reconfiguration of the upstairs workspace.

To accomplish the move, City Hall will be closed for business on Friday June 27th and will re-open at the Patten Street site at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, June 30th, with regular business hours resuming on the Tuesday, June 31st. All phone numbers will remain the same.

We appreciate your patience during this temporary relocation and look forward to serving you at 32 Patten Street. Our hope is that the City Hall renovations will be completed in time for the celebration of the 100th Anniversary of City Hall in September 2008.

City Council approves funding for solar panels on City buildings

At last night's Council meeting, the City Council approved the financing package for selling Clean and Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBs), which is essentially an IRS-qualified loan at 0% interest with a 16-year payback to be used to install photovoltaic power systems on four City facilities. The bond amount is $1.1 million and will be used exclusively to purchase and install solar power on these buildings: Police Station, Fire Station, Corporation Yard and the Norrbom Water Tank. It is estimated that over 27 years, the installation of the solar power systems will save the City $1,125,000 in avoided electricity costs.

City Council agenda and packet

The City Council agenda and packet materials for the meeting of June 18th are posted at the following link:

http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=50

City Job Announcement - Public Works Department opening

Public Works Operations Manager

This recruitment is being held to fill a full time newly adopted position for a Public Works Operations Manager. Under direction of the Public Works Director, the Operations Manager will plan, direct and review assigned programs and operations of the Public Works Department; coordinate assigned activities with other departments; to serve as a principal liaison to outside agencies, various city commissions and the public; provide functional supervision to other staff members as needed in the completion of assigned tasks.

The current salary range for this position is $6,044-$7,299 per month. Employees are enrolled in the Public Employees Retirement System (2% at 55). The City pays a portion of employee plus dependent coverage for health, and 100% of dental and vision insurance. A completed City of Sonoma employment application must be received at Sonoma City Hall, No. 1 The Plaza, Sonoma, CA 95476 by 5:00 p.m., Friday, July 7, 2008.

Download the job description here.

Preview of City Council meeting of June 18th

Our next regular City Council meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 18th. A special study session will start at 4:00 p.m. on for an overview of the Sonoma Valley Fire and Rescue Authority and the standards of coverage document.

The regular meeting will start at 6:00 p.m. and includes these items:

• First reading of the mobile home subdivision ordinance
• Protest hearing on the dissolution of the City's three landscape assessment districts.
• Proposal to sell Clean and Renewable Energy Bonds to finance four photovoltaic projects on City buildings
• Update and status of the 2007-09 City Work Plan
  

Recap of Disaster Council Meeting

The monthly Sonoma Disaster Council meeting was held on Thursday, June 5th. The major agenda item was a presentation by John Saguto, active volunteer with the local American Red Cross, who reviewed the overall role of the Red Cross and specifically how they respond and activate their resources in a disaster. In addition, Sonoma Valley Hospital provided a brief overview of their emergency operations plan, which includes performing two emergency drills per year. We also heard an update from the Public Information Subcommittee, and we are looking at ideas for spreading the word to get people motivated to prepare for disasters, through the use of (for example) informational flyers for utility bills, refrigerator magnets, and a disaster preparedness display and table at community events. Furthermore, we showed a display of sample emergency preparedness kits. The next Disaster Council meeting is July 10^th and we will watch the Citizens Organized to Prepare for Emergencies (COPE) video from the City of Santa Rosa’s neighborhood-based preparedness program, for the purpose of starting a discussion regarding whether this type of program could be replicated in Sonoma Valley. The meetings are open to everyone.

Photo of American Red Cross Volunteer John Saguto (right) presenting in his "disaster uniform," or his Red Cross identification vest.

City Council meeting of June 4th

The agenda and packet for the City Council meeting of June 4th have now been posted on this page:
http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=50

Next meeting of the Sonoma Disaster Council

Click to view the agenda for the next Sonoma Disaster Council meeting on June 5th. The meeting is open to the public.

Memorial Day Observance

A great turn out today at the 50th Annual Sonoma Valley Joint Memorial Day Observance at Sonoma Veteran's Memorial Park. This photo shows two of the many doves that were released as part of the ceremony. Special thanks to the Planning Committee of Bryan Aubin, Tom Benton, Ted Chenoweth, Ruth Chambers, Don Henson, Ed Kenny, Robert Leonard, Gary Magnani, James Parks, Leighton Parks, Don Stevens and Fred Unsworth.

Employment Opportunity - Maintenance Worker

The City is curently recruiting for the position of Maintenance Worker I in the Public Works Department. This is an entry-level class in the Maintenance Worker series requiring knowledge of the uses and purposes of general construction tools and equipment and safe work practices.
The salary range is $3,231-3,927 per month. Employees are enrolled in the Public Employees Retirement System (2% at 55). The City pays a portion of employee plus dependent coverage for health, and 100 % of dental and vision insurance. A completed City of Sonoma application must be received at Sonoma City Hall, No. 1 The Plaza, Sonoma, CA 95476 by 5:00 p.m., Friday, June 6, 2008.
Download the job description here.

Light Brown Apple Moth Update

On Wednesday, May 21st, City Parks Supervisor Dave Chavoya and I met with Dr. Bob Dowell and Mike Cleary from the State Department of Food and Agriculture along with Lisa Correia, Sonoma County Agricultural Commissioner, in a meeting they requested to update us on the Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM) situation. There is a 1.5 mile eradication area in Springs/El Verano with two 200-meter areas that will be treated with the “twist tie” method of spreading a pheromone that disrupts the mating habits of the LBAM. There are NO SPRAY plans for Sonoma County. No further LBAMs have been found since the last one found one month ago. Before attaching the twist-ties to the trees in the two 200-meter areas (one near Flowery Elementary and the other area near Ernie Smith Park), they will send letters to everyone in the two areas and then hold a public meeting. The twist ties are applied by technicians who attach 40-50 per tree in the infected areas. There are no known human impacts from the twist tie method, according to Food & Ag. Here is a photo I took of the twist tie.

Memorial Day Observance

Click the image to view the flyer regarding the 50th Annual Sonoma Valley Joint Memorial Day Observance on Monday, May 26th at 11 a.m., Sonoma Veteran's Memorial Park.

City Council Agenda for May 21st meeting

The City Council agenda and packet documents are now posted on the City's website at the following link:
http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=50

The City business discussion items are as follows:

• Discussion of Regulations and Permitting Process for the Keeping of Rabbits and Poultry. {Requested by Mayor Sanders}
• Update on Draft Mobilehome Park Conversion to Resident Ownership Ordinance.
• Review and Consideration of the Draft Public Art Ordinance.
• Resolutions Declaring the City’s Intent to Dissolve the City of Sonoma Landscape and Lighting Assessment District, the El Prado City Maintenance District No. 1963-1, and the Fryer Creek Village Landscape Maintenance District.
• Joint Powers Agreement Establishing a Separate Public Agency to Operate and Maintain a Public Safety Communication System in Sonoma County.
• Discussion and Consideration of Resolutions opposing Proposition 98, the California Property Owner & Farmland Protection Act, and supporting Proposition 99, the Homeowners Protection Act. {Requested by Councilmember Cohen}
• Consideration of the City Manager’s Authority with Respect to the Positions of City Clerk, City Attorney and City Treasurer. {Requested by Councilmember Cohen}

Spare the Air today

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District reminds everyone to "spare the air" today with the following tips:

• Don't drive unless you have to.
• Avoid using aerosol household cleaners and personal products.
• Avoid using gasoline-powered equipment.
• If you plan to barbecue, don't use lighter fluid. Light charcoal with either an electric starter or a chimney starter.

Visit www.sparetheair.org for more information.

Bike to Work Day

Today, May 15th, is Bike to Work Day! Six of our City employees rode their bikes to work and I want to commend their participation and commitment to the Bike to Work Day program. Pictured here are: Wendy Atkins, Assistant Planner; Rob Gjestland, Senior Planner; Cathy Lanning, Administrative Services Manager; Carol Giovanatto, Assistant City Manager; Teresa Leveille, Administrative Assistant. Not pictured but participating was Jeff Paganini, Fire Captain.

Report graffiti

Graffiti is a crime that blights our neighborhoods and is a detriment to our community. Please report graffiti to the Sonoma Police Department at 996-3602 or to the Sonoma Public Works Department at 938-3332. Reports of graffiti may also be emailed to Administrative Clerk Eithne Bullick in the Public Works Department at ebullick@sonomacity.org. Help us keep Sonoma looking beautiful.

Heat warning from County Office of Emergency Services

The County of Sonoma sent us the following heat warning:

The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES) and the National Weather Service have activated their "Heat Warning" criteria for the greater Bay Area due to forecasts for some unusually hot weather in the next few days. It will seem like an early summer for Sonoma County, with temperatures rising to 94-96 degrees on Thursday and then dropping back down to the mid 80s over the weekend.

Other Bay Area highs to be expected:

San Francisco = Thurs/90 Fri/92

San Jose = Thurs/101 Fri/98

Concord/Livermore = Thurs/96-97 Fri/105-107

Hollister = Thurs/102

Low humidity is expected, which means a low heat index (it won't feel this hot). Additionally there will be an increased fire risk with the high temperatures and as winds increase Wednesday afternoon.

Remember to stay hydrated and cool, and do not leave small children or animals in vehicles. For more heat emergency tips go to Sonoma County's Public Health Preparedness website at: http://www.sonoma-county.org/health/ph/phpreparedness/heat/

City Council actions from the meeting of May 7th

Council actions from the meeting of May 7^th included:

• At the request of Mayor Sanders, recognized foreign exchange student host families: The Molavi Family, host of Khairurrijal Adhad of Indonesia; The Dukes/Hodges Family, host of Sirush Khalatyan of Armenia; The Armstrong Family, host of Ben Brett of Germany
• Council considered and requested more information regarding a joint powers agreement establishing a separate public agency to operate and maintain a public safety communication system in Sonoma County. Staff will return with this item at the May 21^st Council meeting with more information.
• As the Community Development Agency (CDA) Board, approved a community development loan for improvements at 400 First Street East, in the amount of $92,000, for development of restaurant improvements.
• As the CDA Board, approved an increase in the façade matching grant program from $1,000 to $2,500 with a larger project category of $5,000 for larger business frontages.
• Approved prezoning and annexation of 20144 Fifth Street East.
• Authorized the call for bids for the City Hall Renovation Project, which includes repainting, recarpeting, cabinetry refinishing, ADA improvements and minor remodeling.
• At the request of Mayor Sanders, discussed current graffiti abatement efforts and requested staff to research alternate funding sources for graffiti removal.
• As the CDA Board, considered the CDA’s current affordable housing development opportunity sites, and directed staff to return to the Board with options for disposing of the Fifth Street West property; and pursue a low and very low income rental development, to serve as a model of water and energy conservation, at 19340 Sonoma Highway.
• At the request of Mayor Pro Tem Brown, adopted a resolution opposing the California Department of Food and Agriculture Aerial Spray Program to eradicate the light brown apple moth.
• At the request of Mayor Pro Tem Brown, adopted a resolution supporting H.R. 5844, Federal legislation to transfer Skaggs Island from the Department of the Navy to the National Fish and Wildlife Service for inclusion in the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

New Water Operations Supervisor

Public Works Director Milenka Bates is very pleased to announce that City employee Steve MacCarthy (Mac) has been promoted to Water Operations Supervisor. Steve was appointed as Acting Water Operations Supervisor in May of 2007 and has provided insight and leadership throughout the transition of key Public Works personnel. Mac began his career in Public Works as a Maintenance Worker for the Streets department in 1999, he then transferred to the Water department in 2001. Mac has completed certifications for Water Treatment and Distribution and continues to pursue educational opportunities. Congratulations, Mac!

New web page on City Historian

A new City web page on our City Historian George McKale has been created here:
http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=499
The page was created by City Clerk Gay Rainsbarger, who is serving as the staff liaison to our volunteer City Historian.

Sonoma Disaster Council meeting

The first meeting of the newly reactivated Sonoma Disaster Council will be held on Thursday, May 8th at 3:30 p.m. Click to view the agenda. The meeting is open to the public.