Council adopts goals and allows mules

With a full agenda of issues, the Sonoma City Council started its meeting Wednesday evening with a discussion of eight goals that the members view as most important to the city. The six long-term goals are water sustainability and conservation, affordable housing, parking and transit issues, utilizing the Veterans Building, funding a community swimming pool, and creating a comprehensive bike plan. Two short-term goals are discussing how items are placed on the council agenda and providing certificates and recognition for employees.
Mayor Ken Brown also added the issue of making city government more friendly to businesses and a final goal was added during a later discussion about funding the Sonoma Valley Library Renovation project. The goals were from a strategic goal setting retreat the council held at the Sonoma Community Center on March 28.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, community member Nancy Laird gave an overview of a meeting about what to do when a child goes missing. This was followed by recognition of Sylvia Bernard’s eight years of service on the Design Review Commission. “Sylvia, you made a difference,” said council member Joanne Sanders. “You gave everyone a fair shake, made a difference and even inspired me to run for city council.”
Next came five proclamations, the first declaring May 16–22 National Safe Boating Week, the second declaring May as Older Americans Month in Sonoma, the third declaring May 14 as Bike to Work Day, the fourth announcing the first Sonoma County Arts Festival August 29 to October 4, and the fifth declaring May 10–16 Affordable Housing Week.
Of the ten items on the consent calendar, two received a no vote from council member Aug Sebastiani (a vacation rental ordinance, which also received a no vote from Sanders, and the adoption of the plaque policy for city parks). All consent calendar items were approved by the rest of the council.
Police chief Bret Sackett outlined the Sonoma Emergency Operations Plan, which was approved unanimously by the council. An ordinance clarifying the prohibition of fireworks with the exception of duly authorized and permitted public displays was also approved unanimously.
There was significant discussion about the Sonoma Valley Library Renovation Project. Currently there is a four-phase upgrade proposal on the table that will cost an estimated $2.5 million. Some $386,900 has already been earmarked for the renovation project and “Friends of the Library” has raised another $100,000. Darlene Nye, a member of Friends of the Library, said, “The roof leaks in several places, water intrusion means water problems which we’ve been dealing with for 10 years. This is a big asset for the city. Can’t we find a way to rearrange the money to pay for improvements?” All council members were in agreement, deciding to add the item to their goals list.
The next item was consideration of financial assistance to Sonoma Jazz +, which pays around $30,000 for 18 days of use of the Field of Dreams. Jim Horowitz, president of Sonoma Jazz +, explained, “We are at a critical juncture. We come to Sonoma and maintain a high quality event which benefits the city. We are in a time of depleting corporate sponsor money so we are coming to the city to request that the city cover the amount we are charged. We have never been charged for the land in Aspen or Snowmass. Plus, we have raised over $400,000 for local programs.” Sanders brought up the fact that Jazz + paid for repairs and a new drainage system following an especially wet Jazz + event. This led the council to unanimously approve an innovative motion for reimbursement of the drainage and field repair services, coincidentally in the amount of $33,000.
The final issue of the evening was the approval of a proposal to allow mule-drawn carriages to enter the plaza horseshoe. This is the result of a new tour enterprise that will begin this summer and take people from the Sebastiani to Ravenswood to the Plaza in a 20-person covered wagon pulled by Rafael Hernandez’s mules, Huey and Dewey. The council approved a motion to establish an ordinance to let the mules into the horseshoe but only after council member Steve Barbose made sure Hernandez addressed his question about “the mule excrement.” Hernandez replied, “My mules are very regular. They go once in the morning and that’s usually it for the day. We will have a staff member on the wagon with a scooper, just in case.”
Brown in his closing statement expressed frustration concerning a letter against the proposed marijuana dispensary that appeared in The Sun on May 1. “They took a direct shot at my wife and I take great offense. I would like this person to understand the ravages of cancer and the issues facing someone who is suffering.” Brown expressed an interest in increasing awareness about the issue.