Council takes up annexation, again

After eight months off the table, the question of Sonoma’s boundaries – and whether or not they should include the Springs – will be up for potential debate at tomorrow night’s City Council meeting.
“It only was tabled because the county was in the process of amending the (Springs) redevelopment district … we didn’t want to affect that,” Councilmember Stanley Cohen, who put the item on tomorrow night’s agenda, said Friday, adding that the issue was proposed but never defined in terms of redrawing boundaries. “I think that we need to talk about it; do we want to have staff spend time in looking at any sort of annexation process at all?”
The topic first arose at the council’s Feb. 20 meeting, where a lengthy discussion drew mixed comments from the public – and councilmembers – before being tabled on a 5—0 council vote.
But that was before the county approved $120 million for sidewalks, lights, a bike lane and underground utilities between Agua Caliente Road and Encinas Lane, the first phase of which is expected to be complete by Spring 2009. It was also before the council’s Aug. 20 decision to appoint the only two candidates for two available council seats – incumbent Mayor Joanne Sanders and first-time candidate Laurie Gallian – due to a lack of others coming forward. That move sparked an outcry from some Valley residents who felt underrepresented in city government.
However, City Manager Linda Kelly said Thursday that councilmembers have to jump a technical hurdle before they can proceed.
“In order to remove a matter from the table, there needs to be a motion to remove,” Kelly said. “The majority would have to agree, and then they can discuss it because it’s been posted.”