June 2nd City Council meeting

The agenda and packet for the City Council meeting of Wednesday, June 2nd is posted on this page:
http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=50

European Grapevine Moth in Sonoma Valley

The County Agricultural Commissioner has asked for the City’s assistance in getting the word out on the European Grapevine Moth in Sonoma Valley. The following is provided for public information, reference, and distribution as appropriate.

On Tuesday, Mayor Steve Barbose and I met with Cathy Neville, County Agricultural Commissioner, regarding the European Grapevine Moth (EGVM) quarantine, which is under effect in Sonoma Valley. Twelve moths have been found in Sonoma Valley; the moth was reported in the U.S. for the first time in Napa Valley in October 2009. These moths are more destructive than the Light Brown Apple Moths. It is believed that the moth larvae have travelled from Napa via grape processing equipment, and the Commissioner is requiring that vineyards enter into agreements regarding equipment movement and application of pesticides. They do have approved organic pesticides; no aerial spraying has been approved for EGVM pesticides. She is asking the City to help get the word out to homeowners who have small vineyards or patches of grapevine in their yards in order that they may become educated regarding the moth and signs of infestation. The Commissioner’s Office is coordinating the local trapping survey for EGVM and she notes that University of California Cooperative Extension is strongly encouraging growers who are within 1,000 meters of a moth find to treat for EGVM. The officials monitoring this new moth also have serious concerns about abandoned vineyards, which may become hosts to the moth. The location of abandoned vineyards should be reported to the Agricultural Commissioner (see link below for contact information).

For more information, the Agricultural Commissioner’s web page on this issue is http://www.sonoma-county.org/agcomm/european_gv_moth.htm

Agenda for Council meeting of May 19th

The agenda and packet for the regular City Council meeting of Wednesday, May 19th are now posted on this page:
http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=50

Budget Workshop - May 12

The City Council will hold a Budget Workshop on Wednesday, May 12 at 6pm in the Emergency Operations Center of the Police Department to review the first draft of the Fiscal Year 2010-11 draft operating budget. The agenda and packet may be viewed on this page:
http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=50

Special Council meeting Friday, May 7

City Council has called a special meeting for today at 4:00 pm at City Hall to consider a decision on paying the State of California $1.9 million in locally-produced redevelopment money from the City's own budget. The State is requiring this mandated payment as part of its takings from local government to balance the State budget. The agenda for today's meeting may be viewed here
http://www.sonomacity.org/Uploads/19736.pdf

iWalk Sonoma Events

Click the flyer to read about fun walking events coming up in the Sonoma Valley, as part of the Countywide health and fitness initiative known as "iWalk Sonoma".

Council agenda & Budget Committee agenda

The agendas and packets for the City Council meeting of May 5th http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=50 and the Budget Committee meeting of May 3rd http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=522 are posted for public review.