New 6-minute video on starting a business in Sonoma

Business Start-up Video. Businesses considering a location in the City of Sonoma can receive tips from those most familiar with the process in a new video. Aimed particularly at start-ups, the 6-minute video provides an overview of ways to help ensure a smooth and successful launch, with an emphasis on City permit processes and available resources. "Tips for Starting a Business in Sonoma" was initiated by the City as part of business outreach and streamlining efforts that include a brochure series and the new FAST START plan check service. Click here to view the video, and for related information, visit the Start-Up Assistance page and the Business Location FAQs page, along with many other business resources on the sonomavalley4biz.com website.

New Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem

At its meeting of December 3rd, the City Council voted 5-0 to appoint Mayor Pro Tem Ken Brown to serve as Mayor of Sonoma. Congratulations to Mayor Brown.

The City Council also voted 5-0 to appoint Councilmember Tom Rouse as Mayor Pro Tem. Congratulations to Mayor Pro Tem Rouse.

Councilmember David Cook and Councilmember Laurie Gallian were sworn into office, each for a four-year term. Congratulations to Councilmembers Cook and Gallian on their election victories.

 

City Council Meeting of December 3

The agenda packet for the City Council meeting of December 3rd is now posted on this page of the City's website:
http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=50

At this meeting, the oath of office for newly elected Councilmembers is scheduled, as well as the annual selection of a new Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem.

Assistant City Manager Carol Giovanatto appointed as new City Manager of Sonoma

On November 19th, the Sonoma City Council announced out of closed session their agreement to appoint current Assistant City Manager Carol Giovanatto as the next City Manager of Sonoma, effective December 13, 2012. The Council’s appointment of Carol Giovanatto is subject to formal adoption of an employment agreement at the City Council’s next regular meeting on December 3, 2012.
 

Carol Giovanatto has been with the City of Sonoma for 11 years, and is currently Assistant City Manager/Administrative Services Director, serves as City Treasurer and head of the Finance Department.  Carol will replace current Sonoma City Manager Linda Kelly who was recently appointed as the Town Manager of Windsor.

Mayor Joanne Sanders stated, “The appointment of Carol will provide much needed continuity during a time of transition. I have had an opportunity to work with her for eight years and I have full confidence in her ability to meet the fiscal challenges ahead.”

Carol stated, “I am extremely honored to be chosen by the City Council to lead the City of Sonoma organization.  I am focused on continuing the high standards set by my predecessors in providing exemplary service to the citizens of Sonoma.  The appointment as City Manager is the pinnacle of my 37-year career in local government and I value the confidence the Council has shown in me.  I look forward to working together to preserve Sonoma’s economic vitality while protecting its historic character.”

Public Works Director accepts position in Washington State

Sonoma Public Works Director Milenka Bates has accepted the position of Administrative Division Manager for Public Works for the City of Bremerton, located in Washington State. She will be resigning her position as Sonoma’s Public Works Director effective December 7, 2012.  She has served the City of Sonoma Public Works Department since 2002 in various assignments. Milenka is originally from Washington and is happy about the prospect of moving back home.

Milenka stated, “I am so proud of everything Public Works has accomplished; we have grown, evolved and despite the economy and budgetary constraints continued to provide top notch customer service and provide the residents and visitors a beautiful place to live and visit.”

City Manager Linda Kelly added, “Milenka’s skills, abilities, and initiative have been key to managing the diverse range of services provided by Public Works day in and day out, including parks, streets, water, and cemeteries. Her commitment to serving our community has been outstanding and she will be sorely missed. We wish her well and know she will be an asset to her new city.”

City Manager Kelly will soon be considering appointing an interim Director, and recruitment options for the Public Works position.

Transitions!

We have a number of transitions taking place in the City at the presesent time!  Today I am making posts regarding three significant transisions. Here is the first press release:

Sonoma City Manager Linda Kelly appointed as Windsor Town Manager

November 7, 2012 – Sonoma City Manager Linda Kelly has been appointed as the Town Manager of Windsor, effective December 13, 2012. Linda has served as the City Manager of Sonoma since January 2008, and has worked with the City Council and staff in managing through the recession and its impacts on the Sonoma economy.

“I am so proud of this community in how we have come together to face the recession and the loss of redevelopment funding. The passage of the Measure J local sales tax and the creation of the Sonoma Tourism Improvement District show commitment to finding locally-based solutions to our economic challenges. These measures represent the foundation for a stable future for Sonoma,” Linda stated. “I have appreciated the strong support of the City Council and the talented and dedicated staff of the City. Together, I feel we have strengthened the organization and our ability to implement community priorities such as public safety and infrastructure.”

Sonoma Mayor Joanne Sanders stated, “Linda has done a great job managing us through tough times. We understand this is a positive opportunity to further her career. Selfishly, I wish it wasn't happening the same time as my term is ending. We wish her well, know she will be a tremendous success and Windsor is lucky to have her!”

Drop-in Business Assistance hours for 2012

Due to the holiday season, the Economic Development Program Manager's regular drop-in hours at City Hall will be held on Wednesday, December 5th from 1pm to 5pm.

Any questions regarding assistance for existing businesses and for those wanting to open a business may be directed to the Economic Development Program Manager Laurie Decker.

Individuals unable to attend her drop-in hours may call her at 327-7338 and set up an appointment.

More information regarding the City's Economic Development Program can be found at www.sonomavalley4biz.com.

November 19th City Council agenda

The agenda packet for the City Council meeting of November 19th is now posted on the following page of the City's website:
http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=50

Veterans Day

Don't miss the outstanding display of the Vietnam Memorial Wall Replica - America's Traveling Tribute, sponsored by VFW Post 1943 in Sonoma, at the Sonoma Veterans Memorial Hall. For more information click here: http://vfwpost1943.org/page36.html
The City thanks the VFW and all of the organizations and volunteers that made this amazing event possible.

Vote by Mail drop off location in Sonoma

Press Release:

Sonoma voters are reminded that Vote by Mail ballots must be received by the Registrar of Voters Office by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, November 6, 2012.  Having a November 6 (or prior) postmark will not qualify the ballot to be counted unless it is received by the deadline of 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.  Those who have not yet mailed their ballots and do not want to take a chance on their ballot not arriving in time have a couple of options.  They can drop off their completed ballots at any polling place on November 6 between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.  As an added convenience to Sonoma residents, a Vote By Mail Drop Off station will be located at the Community Meeting Room, in the same building as the Sonoma Police Station, 177 First Street West, Sonoma on Saturday, November 3^rd and Sunday, November 4^th between 10 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on both days.

Nov. 5th City Council meeting

The agenda packet for the City Council meeting of November 5th is now posted on the following page of the City's website:
http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=50

Upcoming City Council Meetings

The City Council is scheduled to hold the following regular meetings for the remainder of calendar year 2012:

Monday, November 5th - This meeting is scheduled to include an appeal hearing of the Planning Commission’s decision to approve, as an adaptive re-use, administrative offices and wine tasting by appointment within a historic residence (143 West Spain Street/138 Church Street), along with the development of associated off-street parking

Monday, November 19th - This meeting is scheduled to include an appeal hearing of the Planning Commission's denial of a use permit for Peet's Coffee and Tea

Monday, December 3rd - This meeting is scheduled to include certification of the results of the City Council election, and selection of a new Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem

Monday, December 17th - This meeting is scheduled to include the Council's annual committee appointments and setting of the 2013 City meeting calendar

The good life in Sonoma Valley - video

Here is a beautiful slide show prepared for Cittaslow Sonoma Valley by the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau - "Slow City" life here in Sonoma. It highlights the many key aspects of the good life here in our beautiful valley.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0hUHQwgyes

Oct. 15th Council agenda

The City Council agenda for October 15th is posted at the following link:
http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=50

The City Council will be considering a revised animal control ordinance and possible locations for a potential new dog park.

Oct. 1st City Council meeting

The agenda and packet for the City Council meeting of October 1st are now posted on the following page:

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

Drop-in Business Assistance Now Available at City Hall

Business owners or those interested in starting a new business will now be able to drop in at City Hall to meet with the Economic Development Program Manager Laurie Decker at regular office hours, announced City Manager Linda Kelly. “The City wants to make it easy for new and expanding businesses to find the resources and information they need earlier in the process,” stated Kelly. 

Decker's City Hall office hours will be held on the first and third Wednesdays of each month from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.  Upcoming dates are September 19, October 3 and October 17.

The end of redevelopment funding eliminated the City’s traditional loan and business improvement grant programs. However, the “the City Council remains supportive of providing a robust economic development program for the benefit of our local businesses. Having drop-in office hours for business assistance right here at City Hall allows businesses another way to tap into the full range of resources that they find useful," explained Kelly. 

Some of the reasons individuals may wish to drop in include:

·         Assistance with understanding licensing and permitting processes

·         Information to aid in business site selection

·         Resources to assist in developing a business plan and launching a business

·         Business workshops and one-on-one advisory services for existing businesses

·         Connections to regional resources.

Meetings with the Economic Development Manager are also available by appointment at the Chamber of Commerce on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.  Contact Laurie Decker at (707) 327-7338 or at LaurieADecker@comcast.net.

The Economic Development Partnership is a collaboration of the City of Sonoma and the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce, providing assistance to both prospective and existing local businesses as well as various initiatives to support the local economy.  More information can be found online at SonomaValley4Biz.com.

 

Sept. 5th City Council meeting

The City Council's first meeting in September has been moved to Wednesday, September 5th due to the Labor Day holiday on Monday the 3rd. The agenda and packet are available for viewing on this page of the City's website:

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

City Commission Vacancies announcement

The City of Sonoma is seeking volunteers to fill vacancies on City Commissions as listed below.  Interested citizens (must reside within the City limits) have until 5:00 p.m. Wednesday August 29, 2012 to submit their completed application forms to the City Clerk.  If no applications are received by the deadline, the positions will remain open until filled. 

PLANNING COMMISSION – One vacancy (effective October 19, 2012). 

CULTURAL & FINE ARTS COMMISSION – One vacancy for the Alternate member. 

COMMUNITY SERVICES AND ENVIRONMENT COMMISSION – Two vacancies exist, one regular member and the Alternate member. 

DESIGN REVIEW COMMISSION – One vacancy for the Alternate member. 

 

Application forms are available at City Hall or may be downloaded from the City’s website at www.sonomacity.org.  For additional information, contact Gay Johann, City Clerk, 933-2216.

July 2nd City Council meeting

The July 2nd City Council meeting agenda and packet are now posted on the following City webpage:
http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=50

Budget Meeting June 25

On Monday evening, June 25 at 6pm, the City Council will hold a budget meeting to review the draft operating budget for the fiscal year which begins July 1, 2012. The meeting is open to the public and the agenda and packet materials for the meeting may be found on this page:
http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=50

June 18th City Council meeting

The agenda packet for the City Council meeting of June 18th is posted on the City's website on this page:
http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=50

The main item on the agenda is the public hearing on the proposed Sonoma Tourism Improvement District.

June 4th City Council Meeting

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

May 21st City Council meeting

The agenda and packet for the City Council meeting of May 21st are now available for viewing on this page:
http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=50

The agenda includes discussion and consideration of the future of the City's Economic Development Program following the State of California's dissolution of its former funding source, which was redevelopment (which represented locally captured property taxes used for reinvestment in the local economy).

May 7th City Council meeting

The agenda and packet for the May 7th City Council meeting may now be viewed from the City's website on this page:

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

The main business item is the public meeting for the proposed Sonoma Tourism Improvement District.

City Sales Tax Ballot Measure information

The City has created a public informational brochure regarding the sales tax measure placed on the June 5, 2012 ballot. The document may be accessed here:
http://www.sonomacity.org/uploads/Financial/Measure_J_FAQ.pdf

First meeting of Oversight Board

The first meeting of the Oversight Board to the dissolved Sonoma Community Development Agency will take place on Wednesday, April 4th at 6pm and is open to the public. The packet may be downloaded from this page:
http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=534

City Council meeting of April 2nd

The April 2nd City Council agenda and packet are now posted on the following page:
http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=50

March 19th City Council agenda

The March 19th City Council agenda and packet are posted on the following page:
http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=50

City of Sonoma places Sales Tax measure on ballot

At its meeting of March 5, 2012, the City Council placed a local City of Sonoma sales tax to the ballot for the June 5, 2012 election. The measure is intended to support local City services such as road maintenance, public safety and quality of life issues, following the loss of City of Sonoma annual redevelopment funding due to the State Supreme Court decision dissolving redevelopment agencies and reallocating former redevelopment monies away from cities to other taxing agencies.
The ballot question before the voters reads as follows:
Measure J:
"To preserve the safety, public services and quality of life of Sonoma, and provide funding for essential services such as police, fire and emergency medical services, street and road maintenance and repairs, flood prevention, park and open space maintenance, graffiti abatement and other general community services, shall an ordinance be adopted temporarily increasing the City sales tax by one-half of one percent for a term of 5 years, with all funds to be spent locally?”

March 5th City Counci meeting

The agenda and packet materials for the City Council meeting of March 5th are now posted on the following page.  The City Council will be considering placing a local sales tax measure on the election ballot for the voters to decide upon, following the dissolution of redevelopment and the loss of redevelopment funding as a result of the December 29, 2011 Supreme Court decision.
http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=50

Feb. 22nd Council meeting

The next City Council meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 22nd. A Pension Study Session will be held at 5:30pm, followed by the regular City Council meeting which will start at 7pm. The Council agenda packet may be viewed on this page:
http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=50

Feb. 6th City Council meeting

The agenda and packet for the City Council meeting of February 6th are now posted on the following webpage of the City's website. The meetnig begins at 5:30pm with a special joint meeting with the Hospital District.

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

January 18th Council meeting

The agenda and packet for the City Council meeting of January 18, 2012 are now available for downloading on this page:

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

Jan 12th packet

The special City Council meeting on redevelopment starts at 5:30pm with a closed session. The open session will commence at approximately 6:30pm. The packet may be accessed on this page:
http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?Pageid=50&Year=2012

City to convene special meeting regarding Redevelopment

The City of Sonoma will hold concurrent Special meetings of the City Council and the Community Development Agency on Thursday January 12, 2012 at 5:30 p.m. in the Emergency Operations Center, 175 First Street West.

The purpose of the meeting will be to meet the legislative deadline imposed under Assembly Bill 1x 26 which dissolves redevelopment agencies, as affirmed by the Supreme Court’s decision rendered on December 29, 2011.  At the January 12^th Special Meeting the City Council will consider whether to elect to serve as the “Successor Agency” to the Sonoma Community Development Agency, under the provisions of AB 1x 26.

The meeting agenda and related backup material will be available on the City’s website, www.sonomacity.org on Friday, January 6.

Any questions may be directed to me at 933-2215.