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.