City Council - Regular Meeting

So, good evening. I welcome everybody, all five of you to our city council meeting this evening on March 18th at 602. And with that, could we please have the pledge of allegiance and please join us as you can. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. And uh may we please have roll call. Council member Ding

here. Council member Faras here. Council member Gurnie here. Vice Mayor Low, Mayor Wender here. Thank you. Very good. And there was no reportable action on a closed meeting last week. So, we're going to move to uh I'm turning to my colleagues. Do we have uh any changes we want on the current agenda or may I have a motion to accept the agenda as written? We don't have any change to I move to accept the agenda. Okay. Very good. Second. All right, we'll just do this by voice. All those in favor say I. I. Passes unanimously.

And now we're going to move on to the part where the public can come forward and speak on items not appearing on the agenda. And uh the good news is you have that opportunity to come forward. The bad news is we are not in a position where we can take ask any questions or take any actionable uh movement on it. So, but we will be listening. So, at this point, if you'll come forward, just identify your name. You have two minutes and we welcome you.

Okay. So, am I in charge of this little timer? Do you all do that?

Okay, I'll watch it. I promise. Okay. My name is Jan Ericson and I live on Angler Street here in Soma. I'm a 53y year resident of Sonoma and I started my career here as a teacher and then as an administrator in our local school district. I'm also actually in my 53rd year as an educator. I'm still doing the doing the work with kiddos. So currently I serve on the board of the Sonoma Community Center, the arts guild and music in place. So as you can see the arts are very very important to me. I see Sonoma as a cultural center of the North Bay with vibrant visual art, music, and events that celebrate and bring us together with a strong sense of community. The arts help generate revenue. They give our residents a sense of pride and togetherness, reduce loneliness, and improve mental health, especially for our vulnerable populations. Firsthand, I have seen thousands of adults and children in the last five years climb the the steps of the historic community center to attend ceramics, painting, drawing, fiber arts, culinary arts, and paint classes and the multitude of cultural events held year round. They leave those classes with the three E, enthusiasm, excitement, and enrichment. My heart is full when I observe children in the afterchool program explore their creativity to make ceramic pictures or excuse me, ceramic figures or a print or a freshlymade dinner. We are so fortunate to have local galleries here in Sonoma with art from local talented artists displayed. Our town is full of music for all generals for us to to appreciate and enjoy. So, as you can

see, I'm an art enthusiasm and I urge you all to include funding for public art here in Sonoma to keep us going. Thank you so much. Thank you,

Grandandy. Mayor, members of council, I would like strongly to recommend that the land use designation in the proposed general plan be broadened to include more examples of commercial activity beyond just a hotel. As you heard from many in the community, a hotel on the Sebastian property is not a popular proposal, and yet it continues to be used as the only example of future use. The benefits of a retirement community or senior living center seem clear. In addition to contributing to the city's overall housing target, it would bring in a stable population of residents who will be part of the community without adding significant traffic or pollution or draw upon the city's limited resources. It would blend in with the surrounding residential neighborhood as long as it is size appropriate. Several of us in the neighborhood arranged a discussion with the CEO of Wellquest Living, a wellestablished developer and manager of residential retirement facilities in California and other states. He confirmed his interest in considering a proposal for the property and hopes to engage in conversations with the owners of the property if zoning would allow it. Why not specify this type of potential use in the general plan for which there is an interested developer which would signal to developers that the city is open to more than just a hotel. Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Good evening. Hi, my name is Melissa Bingham and I'm the executive director of Music in Place. as someone who spent most of her life and career dedicated to the arts and is the head of a family that moved to this community 12 years ago to give our children an artsbased Waldorf inspired education at Woodland Star. I'm here to speak in support of the council approving implementing funding for the city's new public arts program by moving forward on sustainable funding. Having grown up and lived in communities where public art is valued, funded, and accessible, I can personally attest to how it has enriched my lives and the my life and the lives of my children. Outdoor art installations and interactions with them make up some of our family's most cherished and publicized on social media memories. Exposure to free community concerts at a young age inspired all of my children to pursue music and the arts as their careers. They are the vibrant people they are today because they had access to free visual art, music, theater throughout their childhood. At Music and Place, we know the value exposure to music has to inspire not just children, but adults alike. More than 300 people every Sunday enjoy free concerts throughout the summer, creating a community gathering place to share a joyful experience and connection. And couldn't we all use more of that right now? The small addition of the lights in the Ginstead this past season enabled us to hold several concerts during the holidays that brought together our diverse community. Think of what we could do if we had a more permanent installation of lighting in the plaza throughout the year. Free and accessible art makes a difference in communities. Research shows that kids test scores improve, social and emotional health improves, creativity soarses in adults. Mental health improves, community is built, and a sense of belonging is created. Art matters, music matters. Please fund this initiative to bring

more public art to Soma and her residents. Thank you very much. Okay.

Good evening, city council. I'm Caitlyn Cornwall. I'm representing Sonoma Valley Collaborative. And as you know, we're a coalition of many constituencies in Sonoma Valley. And the main thing that we're working on because it unites all of the constituencies is uh driving for more housing affordability in Sonoma Valley. And so I just wanted to come and make a comment about the Sebastian properties and the decisions that are before you about reszoning those properties. Um, and I just want to make a pitch on behalf of all of the 30 members of Sonoma Valley Collaborative that your community is suffering from a lack of housing that working people can afford or that retirees who used to be working people can afford. Um, so there it's a big collection of acres there. There's room for a lot of different kinds of land uses. Um and our membership would just urge you to think about the fact that um we need housing for families um for older seniors who are on fixed incomes um something like for every five jobs that are in the city of Sonoma. Only one of those job holders actually lives here. Something like 75% of the staff at the hospital don't live here because they can't. We need a greater supply of housing that people can afford. And that's a place where there's the flexibility and the space um to put it. And you have the option, the city has the option to go taller if you want to take up less acres. I mean, there's a lot of design options. Um, also on the topic of evacuation, that part of town already doesn't meet any of the standards for evacuation and adding the reasonable number of new residents there that could fit on those properties isn't really going to change that. Um, we have more fundamental problems with evacuation than just adding or subtracting the number of new residents that could be there. Um, so I

would just urge you in thinking about the future economic vitality and just well-being of people in cinema valley that that's an opportunity that we can't pass up to increase housing. Thanks. Thank you for your comments. Anyone else? Mr. Confory, are you wishing to come? Oh, so perfect then. No problem then. That's good. So I'm seeing no movement to the podium. So I will close the this portion of the public hearing. So at this time we're going to u bring up uh any meeting dedications. Uh and I believe we have one please.

Hi. Um yes I would like to dedicate this meeting to Betty Blake. Um Betty um passed away in December. She is the mother of Melanie Blake who is uh formerly on the school board and principal at Dunar School. And um although uh Betty was born in the city and lived most of her years in South City, um she spent her last 20 years in Sonoma Valley and was always just um such a warm person to be around, really caring, always supporting kids and uh her memorial is in a week and I would like to be able to present this dedication on behalf of the city. Thank you. Thank you very much. Now we'll uh move to uh council members reports and updates and comments. So uh let me go to the opposite end. May we start at the end? Oh, let me come back to this end.

Yes, please.

Okay. Thank you so much. Um couple of meetings I attended. Uh um I'm on the Sonoma County Transportation Authority and uh as I was joking with the mayor prior to the meeting, uh I like to call it the um 101 committee um because most of everything that's discussed there has to do with uh what's happening uh along the 101 corridor. Um, I will say that, um, I tend to interject on all of these comments regarding, um, you know, the buses and, uh, the Golden Gate uh, transit and so forth and try to get as much in about Soma Valley as possible. Currently, um I'm I think I've said at this meeting I'm a sort of a thorn in their side, but I'm a thorn in their side about the bus route from the um horseshoe at the city hall to the Smart Train. Um Smart Train is fantastic. Every every month it exceeds um the ridership from the month before. Um it's now it's expanding. It's going further north, which is great. But there are people in Soma Valley that would definitely take the bus to Paluma to get on the smart train which of course connects with the go with the ferry service in Marksburg if it were convenient to take that bus and it's not synced up at all. There's very few connections and there's a lot of stops. So my suggestion to them was um there should be an express bus in the morning that doesn't make all the stops along the way to Paluma. It's a 45 minute ride and I'm sure everyone in this room has driven to Paluma and it if it takes you 45 minutes it's just because there's an accident you've hit traffic but there's

no traffic shouldn't take you 45 minutes to get to Paluma and then you could you could be on the um on the smart train which is free for seniors which is a lot of seniors in our community um and then you can you know go up and down the 101 corridor and of course to the city. So, um, just letting you know that I'm continuing u my advocacy for Soma to make sure that, you know, they don't forget that we're part of the transportation question and our roads. The biggest problem in the area, of course, is Highway 37. And a good way to minimize the impact of that is to make sure that people can go west from Soma in uh using public transportation and not have to go um on Highway 37. Thank you.

Very good.

Thank you. Um let's see. On the 12th of March, I attended the library advisory board meeting. And uh just a couple things that are going on. They're still looking to recruit advisory board members uh from the community. They have two adult positions and one youth position. Um they uh reported that the Ringcon Valley uh library branch is closing through June for modernization and they're installing a new integrated software system in the back office. Um not public facing but um but it should enhance their efficiency. Um there's still uh an opportunity if you need assistance and you're a senior or a member of AARP. Um they are still offering tax assistance uh for folks and you need to make an appointment to do that. And then they're going to have a table out at Larson Park on April 19th and that is actually a dedication day for Larson Park. So that's at 1:30 to 4. um if anyone is interested in that. Otherwise, that concludes my report.

Thank you very much. And now, may I go to the far end? Whatever way you want. Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor. On March 7th, I was attending community centers lunar years celebration. Lots of fun. Yeah, this is the third year and we use the word the lunar years instead of the Chinese uh in the new years. It represents you know our inclusiveness and bring them more different cultural backgrounds people come and we got a partnership with the Santa Rosa Redwood and Empire Chinese Association. Uh this is the third year for them send over line dancing and dragon dancing. Uh I'm so impressed on the local Sonoma couple of the young people already enjoying with them and performing this year. And another thing is uh I saw that Paluma there is a Japanese an artist and a community leader his name is in Henry Kaku and he brought some he's a a gun me a rigon using the paper folding the paper and the crane and the piece for the crane that is very very unique. So it reminds me you know the son here really and bring the people together not only just celebrate the new year we can and put different background people get together and the community is getting stronger we will continue this kind of celebration the next year and the year to comes thank you

yeah that is my

all right thank Thank you. So I attended uh the March 5th meeting of Sonoma Clean Power Authority. Um the the good news in our budget adjust adjustment for the year is their anticipation that the Sonoma Clean Power will there will be reduction in rates. They can't promise it but they think that that's something that is going to happen. But it does depend on PG&E and how how rates go throughout the year or the cost of of electricity. Uh the other thing I wanted to make sure that people are aware of is there is a significant and I won't go through individual bills but a significant amount of work do on with the state legislature and I think I've reported this before but now we're in the midst of it again this year is to be able to support uh the geyser the geysers that we would be getting uh power from uh from the geysers um and that what is happening right now is with a process of of working with individual developers to build build wells and test them. That's the most uh expensive piece to do and the hardest to get money for. But one of the things that that happens is a vast majority of the electricity that we get in regards to coming from geothermal comes from out of the state, comes from Idaho. And Idaho, for example, has a great program there where they're using geothermal and it's been a big boom to their economy and created many jobs. And so that's what we're trying to do here in Northern California is to be able to bring that industry here to be able to right now the legislation, a lot of it is to make it easier for us to be able to do uh the geothermal testing. So if we test one and it meets certain environmental um records that we would be able to go and

test other other sites in that area without a lot of excess you know regulation to move forward but so just be following that. The other thing is just continue to encourage people to become part of grid savvy. Those of you that are not aware of Grid Savvy, what it does when you join Grid Savvy, it allows you to be able to monitor the best time for you to be using your appliances during the day. Tells and when you do that, when you especially if you have solar and you have your own electricity uh generated from solar, it allows you to be able to bring the price of your electricity down. And then the last thing, just just so that people are aware, there's We've been getting funding uh to be able to support a number of the lowincome communities to work with individual uh community members to be able to have them get all of the benefits that they can by going to electrification in their house. And you know, at Snow Clean Power, you can get a whole packet of, you know, it's actually a bag. It's more than packet. It's a bag of all sorts of devices that you can utilize throughout your house to help you reduce your your cost of electricity and any so affordability I know that's a big word these days but uh affordability is really key to snow and clean power and moving the u the usage of electricity so that we are not using uh the solar and wind electricity which you gain from your your if you have solar or any in solar institution that you're not using that at night that you are using that during the day and you you know one of the big things is people think that they should charge their cars at night when really we want those cars to be charged during the day. So that because when you charge at night and use up the electricity, the next step is to

go to natural gas. So that's what we're trying to eliminate. So thank you. Just many reminders and mostly good news.

Very good. Thank you. I have three quick items. Um, on March 10th, I had a chance to go to a ribbon cutting at the ticket office for the film festival. So, I would like to encourage everybody to go out and participate in the film festival. Something that I believe we're in we're tracking to uh what's the term uh overtake Sundance possibly in terms of popularity and return. The second item I had a chance to go to a fundraiser at uh Hopmunk for Catholic Charities. And you may be familiar with Catholic Charities in terms of some of the uh providers that they pro uh some of the work they they provide regarding our house uh our homeless, but they also have a very active program for supporting immigrants. And it was this occasion where they gathered and our supervisor Rebecca Hermes spoke briefly and again it was an opportunity to uh hear of uh good activities and and how we are playing a part in trying to bring a little bit more calm to this chaos. And then on the 12th, I had a chance to tour, excuse me, had a chance to tour the uh a place up in Los Gilos, which is an area where we still have the juvenile hall facility, but from the old facility, they've rehabbed it and they've created some some uh small um homes for the unhoused and had a chance to kind of walk through it. Um Nolan Sullivan is now our director that will be now working with with David Guuan on a lot of topics, but uh he has great vision for what other opportunities could take place on that campus. I must confess that in 40 years of traveling up and

down Highway 12, it's the first time I went east uh adjacent to um Oakmont and it was amazing both the beauty and the setting and was was very impressed and I'm happy to report that uh there are 20 beds set aside for those that are within our Sonoma Valley which would include the springs and the city. So, I was very much encouraged with that. And that ends up ends my report. And u as you can see, we are missing both our city manager and our community development director, but we're counting on our attorney to fill in the gap.

Thank you, Mayor Winger. do not have a city update as um as the city manager would, but in light of the fact that April 1st is coming around, I wanted to remind everyone, of course, you've already filed your form 700s, but April 1st is the deadline. And I just wanted to highlight a a new disclosure requirement for um 87200 filers. Those are code filers like yourselves, like myself, like the city manager. Um, AB1286 now requires that we disclose prospective employment when we complete our statement of economic interests. Um, so you don't have to file as soon as you've um accepted a job offer at a particular location, but when you do file, if you have accepted an offer, then there's an additional form that needs to be filled out. It's a form 700- I believe. Um and so that's a new requirement that's gone into effect as of January. So just wanted to highlight that um for you and for the public.

Very good. Thank you very much. We have no presentations this evening. So uh we're going to move right on to our consent calendar. These are items that are considered to be routine and will be acted upon by a single motion unless there's someone up here at the das that wishes to pull an item. I move the consent calendar.

I was going to go public before second public please direct. Fine. Okay. Anyone from the public that wish to come forward and and comment on our consent calendar? And I'm seeing none. So, I would love to hear a second. I'll second. Very good. Uh, I will give more credence to this. So, can we have a roll call, please? Council member Ding, I. Council member Faras, I. Council member Gurnie, yes. Vice Mayor Lo. Mayor Wender, yes.

Thank you. The motion carries unanimously. So now we are going to enter into our regular calendar of which we have two items and the first item is going to be the uh presentation of the 2026 climate action commission annual work plan and we have our new addition to city staff and Twinette Freeman, please.

Good evening and mayor and vice mayor and council members. Thank you for having me. Uh it's great to see you all again. Uh we've had a productive uh meeting in February with the climate action commission and I've met with the commission members and their ad hoc committees multiple times since then in the development of their 2026 priorities uh which you have listed in the staff report. These priorities stem from the climate action strategies that was adopted by council in 2024 and is the guiding document for their work plan this year. Uh what they will be focusing on in various ways uh is continuing to identify grant opportunities uh and engaging in public uh education and outreach activities. identifying which ordinances and policy topics are realistic for 2026 to work on and gathering metrics and data uh that we can use uh in a project that I'll be working on which would be a public facing climate action strategy status database that uh that people can view and uh they will be continuing to look at water conservation opportunities for their focus areas. Uh they developed three ad hoc committees in that meeting. Uh each will have uh focus on some of these items and uh the first is the education they have they came up with a very long name the education community involvement and outreach committee. Uh I am currently working with them in preparation for our inaugural Earth Day event on Saturday April 25th. Uh the second ad hoc committee is is called the

metrics committee. They are going to be uh gathering data and helping me organize data for our dashboard and for use in further programs or uh grant applications. And the third committee is the climate ad adaptation committee. I met with them yesterday to further define what does adaptation mean for Soma. And what they sent back is uh they are going to be doing initially local hazard mitigation planning uh with the draft first draft out from the county for Sonoma County's hazard mitigation plan. They are going to be analyzing that and identifying areas that are specific to Soma that need focus in Sonoma. That's where they're going to begin. uh and all all the committees are enthusiastic and I absolutely enjoy working with them. Uh so that this is what I will be supporting them with in 2026. I will also be working independently on my own work plan and a number of other items that align with our climate action strategies as well.

Very good. Do we have any questions for staff? I do have a question. So in looking at the uh Thank you very much. Um glad to see this is all moving forward and the report uh was good to see kind of all the underlying work that's that's happening and going forward. Um but uh in regards to the climate ad adaptation ad hoc committee is there I'm not quite sure where to connect that to specific areas of focus in 2026 or they're going to bring back some new areas of focus for that. Yes clarification on that.

Absolutely. That's a great qu I had the same question for them. So, I think uh what what they're doing right now is is researching the county plan and then researching the current Sonoma hazard mitigation plan and identifying where there are areas that align in sustainability and climate action that we can add to the climate action strategies. I believe and I don't want to speak for them but their goal is to add an additional section or chapter to our climate action strategies that focuses on this and what uh some specifics of what they were considering that uh that align with climate action and hazard mitigation. It are uh heating and cooling centers, availability of those uh um urban can alignment with some urban canopy areas uh and and creating cooling areas in that way. and a few other very specific items that uh they want to see if it's they are being addressed in the county's hazard mitigation plan and if they aren't what can Sonoma do to be more specific and and uh what are some actions we can take to implement them to to adapt versus to uh uh prevent or take other actions which is are the other committees are Yeah. Does that answer your question?

Yes. Thank you very much. Yeah, sure. I have a question. You mentioned about the educational outreach pro. How many people in involved? Yes.

Uh so the ad hoc committee has three people on it and uh we are we have a number uh they have a number of priorities and I have a number of priorities and they align. So there's a number of things we're going to be working on uh together. Uh and uh one of the ideas that they had is to create a city uh sustainable events calendar of things that are not only happening here in the city but maybe around the county that uh because there are so many enthusiastic residents here uh that people can attend or get involved with uh is one of their ideas. Uh they're really event focused and I I appreciate that as a former event professional. Uh so uh yes, there are three of them.

Thank you. Yes. I'm just curious on your ad hocs. Is this going to be for a 12-month period for the calendar year or at this point? Yes.

Well, I don't have any other questions. So, if I don't see anything else up here, I'm going to uh say thank you and then open it up for the public to render some comment if they so choose. Okay. So, bringing up close public uh discussion and bringing it back to the dis for some discussion and possible motion. I guess the only thing that I would say when you look at the full report and kind of all of the areas that they're working on and what they've are trying to accomplish, it is a lot. It is a lot and it's it's you know it's good to see I I'm very h happy that we're going to have this dashboard so that we can actually then see are we are we you know how well are we doing against these goals and since it's a lot I think you know that it's a that it be very transparent so we know areas where we have challenges and want to move forward and that's fine if we're not meeting every goal we just want to know how things are going to make sure what we can do to move things forward But yeah, so I just wanted to make that comment if you look for and encourage people to look at the full report because there is a lot there's a lot that's happening. Thank you.

Very good. Yes. Um, I just want to say that um, in reviewing the report, it made me feel somewhat good about the fact that a lot of the things that we've done up here as a city council are in alignment with a lot of the things that are in that report in terms of strategies and goals. So, you know, it's nice to see that there's a synergy going on and that we are making some progress. Okay. Yes, please.

I just want to point out the obvious that it's not yet spring and it's 90 degrees in San Francisco. And um if you uh look at the New York Times today, it'll show you um what will what flooding will occur uh in the world and specifically in California um if there are um icebergs or whatever glaciers or you know they break apart. I'm not using the right word. I'm I'm sorry. But a lot of the mapping on that shows California and um you know, specifically I looked at the area around Stockton and the Delta, but that's not too far. So, I just um you know, people keep thinking this is something in the future. Well, it isn't. It's like right now. And so I just want to commend the committee and uh Antonet on the on the report and good luck to you because uh the world is counting on you. Thank you.

No pressure. Well with that comment uh do I have a motion please?

I have the one more comment please. Yeah, as we mentioned, we already have a lot of the strategic policy exist in within the city. The issue is how we can carry it out and also and I think not just the generally reports in the future I suggest maybe we have some any measurable action to this to that. I know you already started for the ad hoc this kind of committee in this way and let community know and how far away from the right now to a go. Uh another thing is and climate actions always related with our local housing and transportation. So that these the two items we can be indepated together and move forward. That is my comments. Thank you.

Thank you. So with that uh do I have a motion to approve the proposed 2026 climate action commission. So move plan. A second. So move Oh, I'll second it. Who did you second too? Okay. Further discussion. Seeing none, roll call, please. Council member Ding, I. Council member Faras, I. Council member Gurnie, yes. Vice Mayor Low, Mayor Wlander, yes.

Thank you. The motion carries unanimously. All right. We're moving on to our last item under the regular calendar. That's 9.2. And that is to uh accept the city of Sonoma's general plan annual progress report and direct staff to distribute to the California Department of Housing and Community Development, HCD, and the Governor's Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation, LCI. And uh we welcome you. So Diana, it's yours.

Thank you, Mayor Willander. And hello, Vice Mayor Lowe and council members. So, good evening. Diane Levine, associate planner. And as uh Mayor Wellender provided, I'll be doing an overview of the 2025 general plan annual progress report, which also includes the housing element annual progress report. Thank you. So, uh you saw planning staff last year around the same time uh for the 2024 report and we explained um that the annual progress reports are a statutory requirement and that uh they get submitted to both HCD and LCI formally OPR and it covers the previous year and it does uh provide LCI with uh sort of what's going on in of course not our just our jurisdiction But um all of the city the local planning activities in in surrounding um areas and throughout the state as well as HCD also seeing the progress that we're making um towards implementing our housing element programs meeting the goals and policies and working towards our arena allocation numbers. So, examples of the well, you know, I'm going to go off script and just add a little bit more. Um, to clarify, LCI also provides a programmatic uh approach to the report. So, it in areas like when I read it, it's not necessarily smooth. that kind of jumps around or it can be tidbits of random information, but what we're trying to do is sort of check the box on the information that LCI requires in the report and in order for it to get

approved. Um and there are similar uh the similar types of uh responsibilities upon us for the housing element reporting but that's a little bit easier because it's just a plug a plugand play as long as you can understand um what it is exactly that they're looking for. So with that um some of the information that we provide in the report includes uh this an update on the city's general plan which the draft elements have started being released as of uh last year and accomplishments such as the tree inventory and urban canopy assessment uh the EV readiness award which Patricia I believe you were there to receive. Uh the report also includes information on housing services provided uh both to the unhoused and uh af movement towards a affordable housing um and uh planning staff support of the several commissions and attendance at council meetings. And we sort of have varying responsibilities uh for each of the commissions and decision-making bodies such as yourself. So here is a snapshot of our reena progress uh the regional regional housing uh allocation numbers. So it's a simplified version and you know although the numbers are low we are seeing a measurable improvement over um the past few years in in developing um and the number of final developments from the last couple of years uh are quite measurable which and you'll see in the next slide also these numbers are based on final uh building permit final units. Um, and so we also do have a lot of entitlements that have just not been built yet. And then we also have received quite a number of, uh, larger development applications that are still, uh, going

through the planning division. Next, thank you, Monique. So, uh, updates on some of the housing applications we do have. So, the uh Montelo Apartments that was approved, I believe it was in the fall of last year, and that has will have 13 affordable units, three extremely low, five very low, and five low. And we've already seen uh some of the permits coming in for that development. So, it's it was only a couple month turnaround really from the approve the entitlement phase to the per beginning of the permitting phase. So, we're happy to see that. Um and then we have a proposed 120 unit development at 20540 Broadway and that has a 5% affordability component. Um staff does an it's called a initial completeness review if you're familiar with that with the larger developments. It's sort of you know it's all part of the streamlining act but we're under timelines for things to be either determined complete or approved. And so the the last the latter three projects on the screen are in that incomplete stage where they've been determined incomplete because we're missing um really crucial information to make a determination and we need that information to keep going forward with the analysis. I will say uh because I personally am working on the uh the project manager for the Broadway project. We're really close. Uh we were discussing the SQA pathway for that project today. So that's exciting. And then we also have a 51 unit um proposed development with a 10% affordability component and that's at 204555th Street. And we also have 254 First Street East which has submitted a new development project with 41 units. I believe they had some entitlements uh approved two two years ago. It was

before my time here, but they've come back uh with more units. So, it's a it's a new project and those two are also in the incomplete phase and we're awaiting resubmitt by the applicants. and some of the other stuff we've worked on throughout the year as far as zoning code updates in order to try to get into alignment with both goals and policies within the general plan within the housing element. And then of course um things that have come up as um you know important topics that need to be addressed from the council taking direction. We've uh expanded the ministerial process for multifamily development, making it an uh easier uh less less uh drawn out process I would say for multifamily development in all zones, not just um specific zones. Uh we've also done modifications to the both the reviewing authorities and their scope and uh for design review and what triggers design review. So, we've taken on more administrative approvals where the the planning division can review them in-house opposed to going through um the decision-making body and having a m or a discretionary process. Uh we've also done zoning code amendments to accommodate the lowberry navigation centers, supportive and transitional housing, residential care facilities. Um, and I believe that also uh helped with the warming and cooling centers that Antwanette was speaking of earlier. Um, and then and that was to help support alignment with program 15 within the housing element. And another program um that we were made changes to the code for to align was to reszone the three sites that were initially identified in

the approved housing element um as as Reena sites. So we essentially we just uh reszone those to match what was already approved by council. Thank you. So some additional highlights. I won't go through them all. um just staffing, the creation of parks and wreck and the the hire of its director. Um public works and the adoption of the neighborhood traffic calming program guide. Uh the one-time funding allocation of 75,000 to local nonprofits in the area. Um supporting the unhoused population. Um the planning division also processed 50 entitlements. Uh so that has to do with development. processed over 500 building permits and um we also completed the 2024 APR. Um we also completed the city's first SP9 lot split. So, that was um a good experience and as well as uh a big win, I think, was securing the 18 long-term uh affordable units within the city and that was done through a really great partnership um and Burbank Housing uh purchased those. So, that's all I have for you and I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.

Okay. Thank you. So, any questions for staff? Yes, please. Um, I'm just curious about S the SB9 lot split just because when SB9 first came on the horizon, I mean the worry and and you know hyperbolic language that that came about was uh was concerning and uh so we've done it and can you just kind of you know um give us some specifics as to what was what was done and just maybe to put people's minds at ease that this is not going to be a horrible situation.

Yeah, I think that there's a couple of things. Um, well, they received their planning entitlement. So, they haven't they there's a number of criteria that have to be met in order for them to be able to move on to the next step and do the permitting and, you know, the the proper uh utilities and infrastructure for the creation of the second lot. So they received the planning entitlements but they hadn't moved towards um the other ones for development. However, I would say that, you know, when this first came out, I too, even as a planner, was thinking, "No way. They're really, you know, but as we as we move forward and as we address the need for housing, not just affordable housing, just housing in general or housing that is affordable. Um, I think that it's it's a great tool and we see people we see applications for ADUs and JADUs every week. people are developing their lots and you just don't notice it because you know we do try to although the state has taken a strong stance we do try to implement um objective standards that ease at least um the impact of uh more development and um so I think that the development of SB9 lot splits is not as uh dense as we're now seeing anyway. So, it's a little bit it it's more palatable just because people are becoming more educated in general and the scope of what the state has said we need has grown so much that in comparison the SP9 lot splits are are really not dense

and of course it's the owner is is there and you know so obviously they don't want something that's right they they wouldn't technically I mean you could own a lot and split it and then develop each lot individually and sell it. Um Oh, are you referring to ADUs? Okay. Yes. Yes. And also they're only permitted in in certain areas which are generally pretty low density as it is. So I think for that reason also it hasn't had as large of an impact. Thank you for that. It's a good point. questions at the far end.

Don't have questions. I may have comments. Okay, super. Okay, thank you. Couple of quick questions. Uh, under the um the Montle project, it said it identified extremely low, but under the breakdown of the Rena, would that mean it would just go slip over into the very low in terms of counting? Um yet so that No, they've actually since added a new category. Oh, great. Multiple C new categories. Yeah. So, um I I would have to look at the the housing element chart in front of me, but they No problem. Yeah, they added But it will count. It will count against the 311. Yes. Perfect. Okay. Um

what kind of response do you expect to get from HCD or LCI from this submitt? Yeah. um you know we last year went smoothly. Uh so I think that you know following um the same path we should be fine again. They did ex also expand the amount of information that they want in the spreadsheets which you've been provided as the exhibits. Um it it is increasingly um they're wanting more. So, we're providing it and yeah, I don't I don't anticipate any issues. And if you refresh my memory, we are in year three of our 8-year housing cycle.

Yes. And if you were a betting woman in Vegas, how are we doing? Would you say given your vision of what's cooking or what's in the pipeline? Uh, am I allowed to say I don't bet? You can.

No. um you know it's it's hard to say and perhaps David has some um more to add. Uh, personally, I have only work I have worked in another really small jurisdiction. Um, and I I value uh traditional characteristics meeting affordable housing. And I think I know that from my standpoint within the planning division, we're doing our best to try to achieve both of those at the same time. And it's really difficult. Um, and a lot of jurisdictions, especially smaller smaller jurisdictions that are built out, are having trouble meeting their arena numbers. Um, David could probably say something more.

Our requirement isn't that we meet them. I mean, our requirement is to ensure that we've planned for the development of them, the opportunities there. Exactly. Yeah. Okay. Um, and these these progress reports are important because they have to be they have to be filed. Um, and you get in trouble for not filing them. The legislature can decide, you know what, who do we pick on? And then they decide, well, let's pick on people who aren't up to date with their progress reports. So, okay. So, the good news is it looks like they won't be picking on us. So, anyway, I have a followup to that, please.

So, in looking at the numbers, one of the things I was So, it's a little bit along the same lines as the last number, but maybe question, but it might be a little bit more specific and not so much a betting question. um is when I'm looking at the percentage of affordabilities in each of the individual ones. I mean, it looks to me like if if we were to move forward on all of these and we're moving well towards, you know, our arena numbers, but it doesn't look like we're moving to meet kind of for the very low and low and, you know, Yes. Yes. That's there perspective on that.

Yeah. So there's, you know, different um densities and affordable uh the number of affordable units provide get you different um can get you different concessions and waiverss. So if developers don't need those to achieve the type of development they're looking for, then they're less inclined to provide those units because they're they have investors and it's, you know, it's generally boils down to just money. Um, so we do that's why we did go we do go above and beyond in the code for um density. Um, but we still in so Montalo did use the the density um 20%. However, like with you'll see with the Broadway they're just doing the standard 5% affordability which is um in the state law. So, and that and they still are allowed a certain number of condition of concessions and waivers with just 5%.

Versus in Soma, we were at I thought we were at 25%. So, yeah. Um, yeah, my understanding is that one there's a there's a threshold of the the square footage of the unit. Oh, affordable by design. So, that's what I thought these were. So, these are doing the affordable by design. Yes. Which we understand. Yes. Can be difficult. Please. Yeah, I have seen a lot of in details. That is great. And these kind of reports in the procedure is required in every year or Yes, every year.

All right. Uh just reporting or they were put some the comments because you mentioned about they ask you added some spreadsheet. Yeah. So maybe I spoke too much on that. As far as the the spreadsheet, of course, you're you have to enter certain information and that that's telling them how how um essentially how much progress you're making towards your arena allocation or whatever programs your housing element said that you were going to implement. So, it's a way for them to um look at your progress. Okay.

But as far as entering, sometimes their site is just really clunky and tricky. But every all jurisdictions I mean we have meetings together about how to deal with this. Yeah I encourage encourage on our staff sometimes we can ask some questions and in this way this reporting procedure will become a policy feedback how the you know let us got a chance to improve. Yeah that is my question. Thank you. Well very good. I think uh at this point uh we'll thank you and I will give the public an opportunity to come forward and offer comment.

Thank you. Good evening uh council members. Thank you for all the work you do in this community to keep us uh moving forward. Uh I wanted to talk about uh the draft land use element regarding the Sebastiani 12 acre or 20 acre excuse me uh projects or at least the draft land use associated with that. the the new zoning uh designation of Sonoma mixed commercial use is is uh described in the in the staff report for this evening's uh evening's contemplation. the uh the staff has done a good job at increasing uh some of the uh thinking some of the restrictions uh related to uh you know some of the issues that were discussed over the last months. I'm here to uh to ask that the hotel designation as a acceptable land use be removed from the uh the uh the draft report. the uh it seems to me that a hotel especially a larger one which was being discussed at some point in the past uh the that type of uh hotel which for instance a typical resort hotel will have swimming pools or restaurants facilities for weddings and conferences

and something like that is far too intense and not compatible with the Sebastian properties and its surroundings, especially with the residential areas. The um the overall effect of a hotel in in that location would be uh very difficult on the the traffic issues, the noise issues, the u compatibility with with all other residential uses which essentially are the existing uses that surround it. So I think the uh even using any kind of hotel use there would be a problem. Uh it would be in my mind at least possible to have a boutique hotel. Uh but that's you're talking about 20 25 rooms with that type of uh hotel. There's one of an example of those on Broadway uh just south of the uh the a block away from the plaza that uh is u the inn at Soma and if you're familiar with that that is 19 units. So something of that scale would be uh you know acceptable especially if it's integrated into the design and site plan and locations of the other remaining buildings. So those are my comments and I just had a a comment on the uh arena numbers does made me a question. Does the the the if we can't meet the numbers uh by the end of what is that 30 31 or

whatever it is the uh is there some uh does the state have the power to start really putting squeeze on us or is it just uh just the ability to absorb that kind of numbers? I don't have the answer and I don't think anybody up at the dis here has the answer. Do you have any comment uh from your perspective? Uh well, first of all, I just want to make clarify that item on the agenda tonight is unrelated to the Sebastiani land use. Thank you.

Uh decision that is going to be coming much later. Um this is just about the update on the general plan progress from last year. Well, the update in the staff report includes uh a lengthy paragraph that's in the in the staff report that's for tonight. Well, the good news is you've already expressed it. So, we'll just go ahead and bring closure on your comment. All right. So, thank you very much. All right. Thank you.

All right. Uh seeing no more movement, I'll close the public portion and bring it back to the dis for discussion and possible action. Uh I do have one comment at least to start with uh regarding the reena number. Um, I think that you may recall in the fifth cycle we only had 113 housing units that needed to be built and we were very fortunate because we had the Alameira project on Broadway that took a lion share of that which meant that we met our arena number for the fifth cycle and I think our hope now for this sixth cycle will be to create an environment of welcoming some possible other developer that will give a focused affordable housing complex. That would be great if if somehow we could attract and find the right site because that would that would be about the most effective way of getting those percentages.

I would I support I would like to put in a motion. I was just going to make one comment just uh in thanking I really appre appreciate the annual element progress report. I did read it all. I took a short nap afterwards

but I did read it. I mean it's I think it's very helpful to really see the work that's the work that's happening because sometimes it's in these big goals and you know when you're I understand when the planners are here and explaining to us the processes that things have to go through. Um there's a lot of work that has to be done before you can go to the next step. And I think a report like this is really helpful for us to really understand exactly you know what's what's happening and you know all the work that needs to go into meeting those numbers that it's more than just you know sending the numbers out and yes developers will come and develop. So, I really I really appreciate that and it I mean it does look like we're moving forward although of course I would like to see more affordable as we all would I think more affordable housing more workforce housing you know how are we how are we going to achieve that so and do appreciate you know just some of the comments just in regards to the support for that u that level of housing uh and the work that people are doing to try to figure out like how you know how are we actually going to achie achieve this the workforce and the low income and I know the workforce is probably the hardest nut crack.

Thank you. Very good. Uh any other comments or discussion points? If not, then I will entertain. I'll second um Mr. Ding's motion. Okay. Accept the report. We have a first and we have a second. Any more discussion before we ask for roll call? No discussion. Roll call, please. Council member Ding. I. Council member Farrieas. I. Council member Gurnie. Yes. Vice Mayor Low. Hi. Mayor Wlander. Yes. Thank you. The motion carries unanimously.

Thank you very much. I'm happy to report that we're going to skip item number 10, which is the second public comment period because we did not exceed the 10 on the first goound. So, with that, uh, I don't think we've set a record, but we did pretty well tonight. I adjourn this meeting.