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.

May 7th Council agenda packet posted

The City Council agenda and packet for the meeting of Wednesday, May 7th at 6 p.m. is now posted on this page http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=50

Valley of the Moon Commute Club

Given the need for more environmentally-friendly transportation options, and considering the underutilized public buses that run through town, I recently became aware of a one-bus commute club that makes various stops around Sonoma to S.F. and back again, Monday through Friday of each week.

The Valley of the Moon Commute Club provides an hour and a half (traffic willing) service to provide Sonoma weekly commuters, for $250 per month for full-time membership or $10 one-way service / $20 roundtrip for non-members. (excluding major holidays -NO weekend service).

Click here to view the schedule and for more information:

http://www.newwestmedia.com/VOMCC/

Many thanks to Rob Adams, President and Bus Captain of the Valley of the Moon Commute Club, for allowing me to post this information. The Club has been in existence for over 20 years!

Next Council meeting

The next regular Council meeting is Wednesday, May 7th at 6:00 p.m. The agenda and packet will be posted on the City's website on Friday, May 2nd and I will provide a link here once the documents are posted.