City Council to look at smoking ban, vacation rentals, non-profit funding

The Sonoma City Council might have a long meeting on Wednesday night with several agenda items that might spark lengthy discussion. Topics include everything from vacation rentals to a proposed smoking ban to how the city will grant monies to local non-profits.
Smoking ban
The Community Services and Environment Commission recently proposed banning smoking within city-owned parks, including the Plaza.
Vacation rentals
The council will also discuss on Wednesday how vacation rentals are regulated in the city, which has recently been a hot topic at meetings of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors.
The City of Sonoma has more stringent requirements on rentals than the county, since passing an ordinance in 1999. There are currently 37 vacation rentals in city limits, most in the historic district. Twenty-five were grandfathered in and twelve have been approved by the Planning Commission since 1999.
Supervisor Valerie Brown took up the issue after receiving numerous complaints about vacation rentals in Glen Ellen and Kenwood being used for large, noisy events. The supervisors are looking at two angles of the issue: how to prevent misuse of the rentals and whether the vacation rentals have an effect on affordable housing stock. The housing concern mainly relates to recent proposals to construct resorts or time-shares on empty parcels that could be used for permanent housing, such as a proposal at the Los Arroyos Golf Course.
Non-profit funding policy
The Sonoma City Council has awarded community grants to local non-profit organizations such as Sonoma Community Center, and the Boys and Girls Club for over 20 years. The idea is that in a small city like Sonoma, such community organizations can provide services at a better price than would a city Parks and Recreation Department with significant overhead. The city funds non-profits that provide these “core programs” like after-school recreational and summer programs, senior services and environmental education programs.
Some years, the council has granted money to up to a dozen non-profits, but last year, the City Council was more hesitant given the state of the economy. They ended up giving out the $110,000 surplus of the 2008 fiscal year to just three organizations – Vintage House, Sonoma Ecology Center and the Boys & Girls Club.
Mayor Joanne Sanders proposed the formation of a subcommittee to explore more strategically a long-term funding process for the non-profits. The proposed policy would have recreational and community programs considered by the City Council during the budget process alongside other City departments and
programs.  The grants would be considered a second priority with funding allocations to be considered after the close of the fiscal year. The Community Services and Environment Commission would oversee the allocations.
The subcommittee also recommended further research into a long-term funding mechanism such as an increase to the city’s Transient Occupancy Tax.
Sonoma Valley Pet Memorial
The City Council will also hear a presentation about the Sonoma Valley Pet Memorial proposed by SVDOG. Staff has suggested three possible sites for the project: two along the bike path at Depot Park and a third along the bike path beside Fryer Creek. The design is being developed.
Legislators: Give yourselves an IOU
The council will also consider sending a letter to the California legislature urging suspension of legislator’s salaries until a state budget is adopted. Councilmember Joanne Sanders voiced her support for the idea at the last meeting and Mayor Pro Tem Steve Barbose asked that it be put on the agenda.
The Sonoma City Council will meet in the Community Meeting Room, 177 First St. W. at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 4.