Money, mediation highlight council meeting

After a brief introduction, Mayor Joanne Sanders read out and presented to Karen Oswald, of United Against Sexual Assault of Santa Rosa, a proclamation declaring April 2008 to be Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Oswald thanked her and the City of Sonoma, on behalf of her organization.
From that grim reminder, the business turned to the budget crisis. In a brief, cautionary presentation, Amy O’Gorman, Director of Public Affairs for the League of Cities, informed the mayor and council members of a possible set of budget cuts looming on the horizon. “The Legislative Analyst’s office, a non-partisan office has put forth an alternate budget,” she said. “This is very unusual. I believe it’s only happened one other time in the history of the state. In face of a $16 billion shortfall, three cuts have been recommended which would have an impact on many cities, including the city of Sonoma. Under this proposal, Sonoma would stand to lose approximately $232,677.” She said legislators clearly have heard cities’ objections, but so far, “nothing has been taken off the table.” She advised the council to continue advocating on its behalf, and that she will continue to keep the council posted on how things are moving forward.
Uneasy financial times make discussions of affordable housing seem more urgent. After some discussion, the council voted to appropriate $2,530,000 from the proceeds of the 2003 CDA tax allocation bond issue for acquisition of property located at 19340 Sonoma Highway for future development as affordable housing. This appropriation does not include the cost of public improvements, which would be implemented at the time of the construction of an affordable housing development. To the extent to which these improvements represent a benefit to the seller, costs in this area have been capped at $381,000, consistent with the negotiation instructions given by the city council.
Still on the subject of affordable housing, but pertaining this time to the matter of Rancho de Sonoma mobile home park, the council decided to move forward with the set schedule, creating a draft of the revised ordinance that can be forwarded to the park owner and his attorney and to the residents’ association and its attorney for comment. To sum up, the proposed schedule of next steps is as follows: By April 4, 2008, the draft of revised ordinance should be available and circulated for comment. By April 30, 2008, consultations with park owner and residents’ association should be completed. By May 21, 2008, the ordinance should be presented to the City Council for consideration and first reading. In the discussion, it was clear that the owner of the park is within state law in his desire to convert to condominiums; that the city did not want to risk a law suit by thwarting him; that the Rancho de Sonoma residents had legitimate concerns and that their attorney is there to help them; and council member Barbose would help facilitate discussions. Council member Cohen said, “Let’s move forward on all fronts.
Moving on is what the Montini Preserve Trail Project is ready to do. The council discussed the appointment of an ad hoc committee to participate in a mediation process regarding the proposed Montini Preserve Trail, with Gina Bartlett as mediator. Bartlett, of the Center for Collaborative Policy, is a public policy mediator and facilitator. Among her many natural resources projects, she acted as mediator in the Sonoma Valley Groundwater Management Plan, and was praised by council member Barbose for her ability during that effort to bring disparate groups together. Now she is the mediator for the groups trying to bring the stakeholders to an agreement. Council member Barbose said that last week he attended the first Montini meeting and that about 12 people were in attendance and that it looks “very promising. We’re going to reach solution to the cows and handicapped access.”
Waste processing looks promising, too. In his report, council member Barbose said the Sonoma County Waste Management Agency was moving ahead addressing the issue of extended producer responsibility and he would like the city to take the position of imploring the legislature to do something on a statewide level to implement laws and regulations. The council passed a resolution supporting the extended producer responsibility legislation, with two minor changes. The vote was four–to–one with Sebastiani against.