In other actions,
the City Council:
• Held a public hearing for, but tabled a decision concerning, a proposed nine-unit condominium complex at the southeast corner of Perkins Street and Second Street West. The three-story structure failed its use-permit approval on April 10 before the Sonoma Planning Commission due to a commissioner’s absence and subsequent 3—3 vote. City Councilmember Steve Barbose was absent from Wednesday’s meeting, and as his colleagues desired his input as a former planning commissioner and didn’t want to face the possibility of a 2—2 council split, the issue was continued to the council’s July 2 meeting.
• As the CDA, praised and agreed to continue participating in a Joint Economic Development Program with the Sonoma County Community Development Commission and the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce. The program, begun in 2006, gets $75,000 of its $85,000 budget from the city for fiscal year 2008/09, with the county kicking in $10,000. At its July 2 session, the agency will extend the agreement for another two years — and ask the county to pick up more of the tab.
• Also as the CDA, approved a $50,000 loan for structural improvements to transform a run-down East Napa Street triplex into a two-unit vacation rental with onsite manager; called for bids to demolish unsafe buildings at the corner of Clay Street and Broadway and make way for future affordable housing units; and established a city graffiti abatement program.
• Established a succession to the City Manager’s role of Sonoma Director of Emergency Services, whose absence would be respectively filled by the fire and police chiefs or, in their absence, the highest ranking on-duty official of each agency
• Voted 3—1, with Councilmember August Sebastiani dissenting, to deny a waiver requiring a sidewalk as part of a Second Street East home renovation. The homeowner, who did not appear at Wednesday’s session, sought the waiver to preserve a large city-owned English elm infested by Dutch elm disease. The ruling means the owner will need to install a sidewalk, but the city will pay $2,475 for tree removal and replacement.
