The Sonoma City Council voted against changing the “City of Sonoma” to the “Town of Sonoma” at Wednesday’s meeting.
Councilmember August Sebastiani had proposed the name change several months ago and city staff conducted an informal, on-line poll. In total, 485 people voted, with 60 percent leaning toward the change. “I don’t think we’ll be a bustling metropolis any time and I just think town is a more accurate word for what we are,” said Sebastiani.
City staff estimated that it would cost about $3,700 to replace signs and that other costs, like replacing patches and letterhead, could run between $4,000 and $25,000. Sebastiani suggested the city could mitigate costs by replacing items like signs and letterhead only as needed, over time.
Sonoma was referred to as a “city” early in its history – although outsiders probably wouldn’t have characterized it as such at the time. “Our forefathers were looking to, I think, promote the city in a bigger way than it really was,” said George McKale, city historian. “They were looking for Sonoma to be the seat of the county or even the state.”
One early mention he found was a document from 1850, a receipt from San Jose, then the capital of the state, that referred to Sonoma as a city. “I think things change through time,” said McKale, who preferred “city” but admitted it was a tough question.
Councilmember Sanders pointed out that colloquially, many locals refer to Sonoma as a town. Sebastiani said that he thought it was still important to change it formally.
“It was founded as a city, it’s known as a city, there are many definitions of city,” said councilmember Steve Barbose. “I just can’t justify any money for doing this. It’s not what we call ourselves. What we do with this community, what we do with each other, how we take care of our citizens – that’s what’s important.”
Councilmember Laurie Gallian said she’d heard good arguments on both sides, but hadn’t seen an overwhelming consensus from the public to change the name. She recalled seeing an early map of Sonoma on the wall of the Maysonnave House at an open house. “That kind of did it for me,” she said.
Mayor Ken Brown said he would rather have had the item go to a vote of the citizens. A handful of citizens spoke at the meeting, most of them against the change.
“There is a certain aspiration in that founding document,” said Bill Willers. He argued that the city would not affect its rural character by changing its name. “That’s gained and lost by the citizenry and how they treat their city. The name has nothing to do with it,” he said.
Willers said his 10-year-old son saw an article about the agenda item in the newspaper and commented, “Seriously, this is what the city council talks about?”
Council briefs
Commemorative plaques on the Plaza
Sebastiani proposed the council rethink a current unwritten policy not allowing commemorative plaques in city parks and the Plaza.
“It could be a cool opportunity to remember members of our community. I’m talking about a 3 inch by 5 inch plaque that might go on a bench or on a pedestal in front of a tree,” said Sebastiani, who said he thought it might be a good source of revenue.
The policy was considered in the 1970s and the consensus was that it wouldn’t be appropriate as it would distract from the historic nature of the Plaza. Currently, people can donate $1,000 for a tree to be planted on the Plaza or for a memorial bench to be placed along the bike path for $450.
Gallian remembered the first time she walked the Plaza.
“Nothing was marked or defined as owned. It was open, it was free to enjoy. That’s what really appealed to me,” she said.
The consensus seemed to be against allowing plaques on the Plaza. Mayor Brown said he would like the city staff to go ahead and develop a written policy, rather than leaving it in the unwritten realm.
City wins solar award
Rachel Wong, president of the NorCal Solar Energy Association, presented an award to the city of Sonoma for first place in watts per capita and total watts installed in small cities during 2007.
NorCal Solar is a nonprofit that since 1975 has promoted education to foster the greater implementation of solar throughout northern California. “We look forward to coming back for many years to award you for your efforts,” said Wong.
Overnight shelter update
Sy Lenz, a board member for Sonoma Overnight Support (SOS), gave an update on the emergency shelter after its first year in its new physical facility. Before that time, community members had worked out other temporary housing, including use of hotel rooms.
“We’ve learned an awful lot in this past year,” said Lenz, who added that people have taken to calling the facility the “Haven.”
“They are not just lacking housing. They lack a tremendous number of other things. They lack confidence. They are incapable of thinking their way out of the situation they’re in,” said Lenz.
Supporters have made the shelter non-institutional – a homey setting giving people opportunities to resocialize. “We think we’re doing the right thing,” said Lenz, “because we’ve had responses.”
They have moved some people to programs in Petaluma and Santa Rosa for more long-term support, and some people were able to find jobs or housing. Lenz suggested the city might look at developing some local transitional housing in the future.
The shelter spent $81,860 in 2008, above the budgeted $56,000. The shortfall was made up in accumulated savings from the time before the shelter was open. The budget for 2009 is $66,000 and they have projected a shortage of $20,000.
Lenz said they might ask the city for a raise in its stipend. “We are working hard on appeals and developing a fundraiser for the operation.”
Councilmember Joanne Sanders commended Lenz and other involved community members for bringing the shelter to the community. She said she made an impromptu visit to the shelter with August Sebastiani, finding a warm welcome and spotless premises.
The shelter saw 154 bed-nights in December. Volunteers served 199 meals in October, 236 in November and 301 in December.
Appointments to Community Services and Environment Commission and Planning Commission
The council appointed Melinda Kelley, Liz Lease, and Lisa Micheli to the city’s nine-member Community Services and Environment Commission, which advises the council on such matters. Kimberly Blattner was appointed as an alternate. Mayor Ken Brown and councilmember Laurie Gallian interviewed 13 candidates who had applied for the position.
“It’s my first role with community service and I’m looking forward to all aspects of it,” said Liz Lease, who brought her family along to the meeting.
Sara Lambert was appointed to the city Planning Commission as an alternate. Councilmembers August Sebastiani and Joanne Sanders interviewed her, along with six other applicants.
Green building ordinance
The city council adopted a green building ordinance that establishes a new mandatory green building program in Sonoma, promoting and/or requiring sustainability and energy conservation features in most newly constructed buildings. The program would apply to the construction of all residential buildings with a floor area equal to or greater than 500 sq. ft. and to the construction of new nonresidential buildings and additions with a floor area of 5,000 sq. ft. or more.
Several building professionals argued that the ordinance should apply to remodels, which make up a lot of the work done and which have a lot of potential for energy savings and other green elements. They also argued that it would be worthwhile to have an incentives system, as opposed to a punitive system. Community member Bill Willers said that he thinks it is a mistake not to include smaller commercial buildings.
“Remodels are where you get the most bang for your buck,” said Wayne Wirick, development services director for the city. He said he agreed with the audience input, but he said that it is very difficult to put something on the books to apply the standards to remodels. Staff is looking at a separate construction and demolition ordinance that might deal with waste and materials disposal.
Councilmember August Sebastiani said he feared the ordinance would be another hurdle businesses would have to jump to get established in the community. “I’d like to see us go ahead with this is a first step,” said councilmember Steve Barbose. “But I’d also like to see us continue our work, meet with the people here in the audience tonight and with staff.”
Affordable housing and redevelopment study sessions
“We turn our hats around and all of a sudden we’re a new body – the redevelopment agency,” said councilmember Joanne Sanders, who said she’d like to see two study sessions, one looking at the pros and cons of redevelopment and the other focusing on affordable housing.
Within redevelopment is the requirement that 20 percent of those funds be spent on affordable housing projects. Sanders wanted to see other projects the city could do to meet its affordable housing obligations besides developing new housing, saying, “I just think there needs to be more of a scientific approach to this.”
City Manager Linda Kelly suggested that the elements related to affordable housing be addressed at a planning meeting with the city planning commission to discuss many of the questions raised. Councilmembers voiced interest in having a separate study on redevelopment, which will be held at a later date.
Council retreat
The city council decided to do their retreat in a do-it-yourself style this year, foregoing a cost which has gone into the tens of thousands in past years.
Councilmember Steve Barbose said he was amazed how much lower the proposed cost for the retreat was compared to previous years. City Manager Linda Kelly said that in previous sessions, the cost for the facilitator had been higher because there were interviews and psychological assessments of the councilmembers before the retreat and there were also costs related to staying at a facility. The proposed session would be held at the Sonoma Community Center with no room rental cost, led by a facilitator who would charge about $1,700. Kelly offered to “spring for bagels.”
“I think we could do it for free. I just want to get five people in a room and see if we’re on the same page,” said councilmember August Sebastiani.
Brown said he thought they’d have a better meeting with a facilitator and that he wouldn’t be fully in the moment if he were trying to lead the session. However, the other councilmembers said they didn’t think a facilitator would be necessary.
The meeting date is yet to be determined. Under California’s open meeting laws, the public will be able to attend.
