[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6667923,"mediaKeyId","2249791-59717338cfb670b5551e5a026b323c1c","parentId",2249791,"title","Commission hears updates on signage, irrigation survey, Measure M funds and parks department planning","audioSeconds",3287,"startMs",3204000,"endMs",6491000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2249791-59717338cfb670b5551e5a026b323c1c&start=3204&end=6491","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2249791-59717338cfb670b5551e5a026b323c1c/thumbnail_3204000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6667923/Sonoma-City/Sonoma-County/California/Commission-hears-updates-on-signage-irrigation-survey-Measure-M-funds-and-parks-department-planning","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6667923-b65f5adf82684317d617b5a70c09e99b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770390742&Signature=DMPQ2wTWok4DxXJf1xIKHCm6qO4PDmxi0LJD6yH0QyxZfa4lkRNj~OKtikaKsDLLzPb6QGKHN76aLS42t4AjyRVmlY-nQVexatkSsXSDhQfk2oVvdlNm25iKQChebmgVOoTftFFcA9V7EJMl0blvhZckfKas1U5ohnPDJkbCBz59k1gYccchI3Ztz02M9-Mj4A2QhmzZwxdgOpdKXBAwQQlsiKcARQ7VOjXIfVXQzQgu28vNR6Bk5f~SkEuxC7-t9OoFFUZ00Eflblt6SxJVt0Xg5ysdoekb5QuZ~eQlRQLFGjZtVqNw8U3EzDb20B-7whXWV8ZdbJ8zbmUKJ2oFhw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Sonoma, CA","date","2025-02-08T01:14:57.247Z","article","Commissioners received a set of informational updates and agreed on next steps for several projects:

1) Sonoma Overlook Trail and Montini Open Space signage: An ad hoc committee recommended a three-phase approach (temporary kiosks, permanent replacements, then miscellaneous signage such as no dogs). Staff identified five trailhead locations for temporary kiosk replacement; temporary signs will be printed and field-verified prior to installation, and the permanent phase will include a full sign inventory and integration into the citys GIS layer. No action was required; commissioners volunteered to assist with inventory work.

2) Plaza irrigation and survey decision: Staff recommended pausing irrigation work and pursuing a professional topographic and asset survey of the plaza (trees, valves, controllers, grades) before issuing an RFP for irrigation work. The commission agreed to disband the ad hoc irrigation committee until the survey is complete; staff will issue an RFP for survey work and return when the survey results are available.

3) Measure M update: Staff reported a fund balance (as of December 2) of approximately $542,173 and an estimated fiscal-year revenue of about $150,000, yielding an anticipated balance of about $692,173. Programmed projects (Olson Park, Sonoma Valley Oaks, Depot Park enhancements, Montini fire prevention) total roughly $669,000; no immediate reprogramming decisions were required.

4) Parks and Recreation department planning and personnel: The city manager provided a status memo about analyzing functions and preparing a job description for a parks and recreation director and a possible departmental reorganization. Commissioners asked for the chance to review and offer input on the job description; the city manager indicated selection interviews would be a personnel process, but staff said the commission may submit written input on the job scope and priorities and asked commissioners to email the city manager or request a follow-up meeting.

No formal votes were required on these informational items; commissioners asked staff to publish relevant RFPs and to circulate job‑description drafts and RFP links to the commission for comment.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Parks, Recreation & Open Space Commission Regular Meeting - Dec 11 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Staff reported progress on Overlook Trail and Montini signage, paused plaza irrigation pending a topographic survey, updated Measure M balances and programming, and discussed the timeline and opportunities to provide input on a new parks and recreation department director/job description.","taxTitle","Sonoma City, Sonoma County, California","taxId",72202,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6667928,"Commission asks City Council to initiate amendment of Chapter 12.08 (tree ordinance) to allow administrative tree removals",1221,4773000,5994000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2249791-59717338cfb670b5551e5a026b323c1c&start=4773&end=5994","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2249791-59717338cfb670b5551e5a026b323c1c/thumbnail_4773000.jpg","/articles/6667928/Sonoma-City/Sonoma-County/California/Commission-asks-City-Council-to-initiate-amendment-of-Chapter-1208-tree-ordinance-to-allow-administrative-tree-removals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6667928-eb50866786b226ed27efcb4282f5ca1b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770390742&Signature=ApZqNCpuzPAtEwzXkEXlQhCIVZi7u3hGK9hzp0f8Mim2RJWaeyZn23PiaYJ75teP4XaD59CVf5co0odR6mcomaUPDaXGO5GZZb3V7z5eQCAoO4QleE7w7QwTi-Lu24CY3CmaR~XWUgeS2nClFWmSYMHhwcym7T23uGdcZfSlIaB06R~EQBylqYSHxMJJcGzwCOrUHVsCbvDcqmMiyBsaGRiOc7zc7Po8ITVzkgxsERYsmCxXO2NJQ4T~U4LbLIdiC8vSuRxxy3Y2nEy0UssOEVbH1V46-BRCS8HrGPaWeF3BItWcttkSCot8Y6t8GsAjfx9TPGYz2yOu369pTp56TA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The commission voted unanimously to request that the City Council initiate amendments to Chapter 12.08 of the Sonoma Municipal Code (the citys tree ordinance). The requested amendment would move tree removal permit approvals to an administrative process handled by city staff and the city arborist, clarify replacement and cash-in-lieu rules, and update violation penalties.

Commissioners framed the change as a way to streamline a process that can now take many months for homeowners seeking removals and to create more consistent, predictable outcomes. Under the proposal discussed, staff-level decisions would be subject to appeal to the commission; applicants would retain an appeal path to the commission and then to the City Council if desired.

Speakers flagged several topics they want addressed in the ordinance rewrite: reasonable caps and formulas for replacement or cash-in-lieu where lot constraints make literal replacement counts impractical; bonding or security to ensure newly planted trees are maintained for an establishment period (staff and some jurisdictions use multi-year bonds); and adjusting penalty amounts that staff described as low compared with nearby municipalities.

The motion passed unanimously. Commissioners and staff agreed the amendment process will be lengthy and should be coordinated with the planned urban forestry inventory and canopy study; staff will follow up with the city attorney and city manager to bring an ordinance initiation item to council.

","The commission unanimously requested the City Council begin an amendment process to Chapter 12.08 of the Sonoma Municipal Code to allow tree removal permits to be processed administratively (staff-level decisions) and to update cash-in-lieu, penalties and other provisions.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6667933,"Commission OKs replacement of plaza benches with single-piece wood seats and paint finish",967,3553000,4520000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2249791-59717338cfb670b5551e5a026b323c1c&start=3553&end=4520","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2249791-59717338cfb670b5551e5a026b323c1c/thumbnail_3553000.jpg","/articles/6667933/Sonoma-City/Sonoma-County/California/Commission-OKs-replacement-of-plaza-benches-with-single-piece-wood-seats-and-paint-finish","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6667933-771c5e44be0a2a7407778f5a3ce3bf82/orig.mp4?Expires=1770390742&Signature=A~5K3FO-X5BUDaDXnZFPnwf1vUbgq~lOMDpcHn2KNeKPbftmBw2BgZOimxSsvY1LvaNQDKcaV8hu3cwpgh0BY9TM8ZPoKJbk21P4Pw-pgK5Av5FFqk~lyEG1aTR7Z6n15cxSbpb9zB-PZvxAQWdeMtQ2P-SXSkm8l5pxsRpCbfQ0vL9B3kAuDQbzv6KIfNA0HTmbqbVfBYglLQXgO9QudE4Vpmt0DAvbXe0V2Sw8kK7CPEkq8wBbL-mK7far1HPa0GO3eKH3~RCThEPw9kRSiQFiE1ccaoTsvFl9X3mLu2jOyCFaflJiRtm~BDIYTbYIP1RL5fy2QK89x8bQ16Y~lw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The commission approved replacing deteriorated plaza benches and picnic tables with a single‑piece wood seat configuration (one board per bench seat) and a painted finish rather than stain, with the work to be funded from remaining Prop 68 project funds.

Staff reported the overall plaza improvement project had a budget of $231,269 and an approximate remaining balance of $18,000 after recent purchases (big-belly trash cans and bike racks). The benches and picnic tables were determined by staff to be eligible under the grant scope; the replacement will be a like-for-like approach using larger stock timber for durability, painted in the same finish currently used, and installed to minimize disruption to plaza functioning.

Commissioners discussed alternatives such as composite (Trex) benches or higher-end clear‑stain redwood but chose replacement in kind now and suggested larger plaza master-plan-level design choices be considered in a future larger plaza plan. The motion to accept one-piece wood seats and paint passed unanimously.

Staff will proceed with procurement and installation; operations staff indicated they will prioritize minimizing the length of time any seating is unavailable.

","Using remaining plaza project funds, the commission approved replacing plaza benches and picnic tables with single-piece wood seats (larger stock) and a painted finish; motion passed unanimously.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6667936,"Commission adopts recommended city tree list for residential replacement and planting",640,2539000,3179000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2249791-59717338cfb670b5551e5a026b323c1c&start=2539&end=3179","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2249791-59717338cfb670b5551e5a026b323c1c/thumbnail_2539000.jpg","/articles/6667936/Sonoma-City/Sonoma-County/California/Commission-adopts-recommended-city-tree-list-for-residential-replacement-and-planting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6667936-e881b6465d5009a21da1477b39263b5e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770390742&Signature=aYTFpk4--z-fPquETghUfKnTNnlJCGd1bjX--O8ccT5JYmeiVc4qNV4UPTKtDm22d7qc9a58B~6g0e82dx9qY2x~w7gM71-C8aEmwNtRuob787qkZQRVnu0z6NjNi7-G4RbOl-kS7BXqpqy05XRFYuBcS7lC6A0GcJn8c5zi3NemoApLIQe2AivXmhJlpmV2GIdw5w5mbiCot5~B8ev6wLvR4FOZTOkSg8nkCSavvGUMG9mSFqFaWyhxCepf6lMy9PyPUpFOOqpO13vWFl3n8p4yge3rAUdIrodU666Ny5KHj7ADqXbamWLokhyPKARiq9j5fbmNqHGTvLBUPR8CSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission unanimously adopted a recommended master tree list aimed at increasing tree survival under Sonomas changing climate and improving guidance for residential replacements.

Commissioner Mesaraca and contract arborist John Miseric led the ad hoc review that narrowed a larger inventory to roughly 32 species chosen for drought tolerance, pest resistance, maintenance profile and habitat value. The list was informed by the UC Master Gardener recommendations and refined for Sonomas conditions.

Commissioners stressed that the list is advisory: homeowners are not required to use it but staff and commissioners expect the list to be the citys preferred guidance for replacement plantings and to be used by staff when advising residents. The commission also asked staff to add a preamble explaining that climate resilience considerations informed the list and to publish a planting and maintenance guide alongside the list on the city website.

The motion to adopt the recommended list passed unanimously; commissioners praised the time contributors invested in winnowing the larger inventory to a usable 8.5-by-11 format and asked for a web page that includes additional species notes (messiness, fruit drop, suitability as street trees).

","The commission unanimously adopted a condensed recommended tree list (about 32 species) intended to improve survivability under local climate conditions; adoption is advisory and not mandatory for homeowners.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6667941,"Commission approves removal of large redwood at 542 Estemadera Drive, requires 24-inch replacement option",2358,118000,2476000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2249791-59717338cfb670b5551e5a026b323c1c&start=118&end=2476","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2249791-59717338cfb670b5551e5a026b323c1c/thumbnail_118000.jpg","/articles/6667941/Sonoma-City/Sonoma-County/California/Commission-approves-removal-of-large-redwood-at-542-Estemadera-Drive-requires-24-inch-replacement-option","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6667941-121118c1336a44718b6461d1223dfd9f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770390742&Signature=fBmXKHGnT5Uj46V4FtcT5~AkUIQZbBmRChC2FV1TRbkDzHjLhpSQPRooaBCpSCGMYDkK1zu~npaN3nb9MnXRzOZn9OtSkx~wokZuQN4QwRwB83cxnk0GdbUoB41p8S2KGDmu8CogcGonOsrg4oSFyHlane5niLzrdgcv2LkS-3SEhG~qnsPn7a3dFNkWstix0HMGZYAKxdEAobBgyvu6nqCVpSC00yTaXf8XXGyk-OR37ydOScHWsvRidqM6On2njNKXtifH7b-od5WMUYD4HMrMNe04SUxZsSxE14HbDpiZCc65FcYphi-RWo3MqagOAEInBB5~Di88B2glepFGNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission approved a tree removal permit for a 75-inch diameter coast redwood at 542 Estemadera Drive, directing that the applicant replace the tree with a 24-inch box tree from the citys recommended list or meet other conditions the committee sets.

The decision matters because the homeowner reported repeated sewer blockages and flooring and foundation movement the arborist and staff said are likely related to the trees extensive root system. The commission balanced property‑level damage and the citys interest in preserving canopy, and voted 7–1 to grant the removal permit with the replacement approach described.

Staff said the tree is about 50 years old with a trunk diameter of roughly 75 inches and a shallow, extensive root system that has damaged sidewalk sections and pushed on underground infrastructure. Staff and the contract city arborist, John Miseric, told the commission there were no clear structural failures observed at the time of the arborist evaluation but that the root placement and growth pattern make future damage likely if the tree remains.

Homeowner Laura Lucas described recent service calls to clear sewer lines and structural impacts inside the house. \"In the last 45 days, we've had to call out Boden Plumbing twice ... That's $700 that we've just paid,\" Lucas said, adding that hardwood floors in several rooms are coming apart at the seams and that the household has lived with the tree for 22 years.

Commission discussion focused on mitigation and parity with the citys tree ordinance. Commissioners noted the ordinances replacement metric (one new tree per each six inches of removed diameter) would have required an impractical number of replacement plantings on the lot. Commissioner Misuraca pressed for higher cash-in-lieu figures than the ordinance's existing $100 per six inches; staff and the arborist said an installed replacement tree on private property is likely to cost in the range of about $400

$900 per tree depending on size and planting conditions. The commission ultimately approved the permit while authorizing replacement as a 24-inch box specimen from the citys recommended list rather than forcing the literal tree-count calculation on constrained private property.

The vote was recorded as: Yes — Commissioner Cullinan, Commissioner Izetta, Youth member Mellinger, Commissioner Rausch, Vice Chair Tolbert, Commissioner Wellender, Chair Donnelly (7); No — Commissioner Misuraca (1). The motion passed 7 to 1.

Commissioners also directed staff to carry this discussion into the upcoming broader ordinance review so that cash-in-lieu, replacement sizes, and variance procedures are clearer in future removals. Staff noted removal and stump grinding costs to homeowners can range substantially; operations staff offered a homeowner estimate of roughly $12,000 to $14,000 for full removal and stump grinding in a large‑tree scenario.

The commissions approval authorizes the public works director to issue the permit subject to conditions the committee deems appropriate, as allowed under the current tree ordinance.

The homeowner indicated she would accept a replacement planting that is not a redwood and would consult with staff on appropriate species.

The record will be returned to staff for permit paperwork and final conditions consistent with the commissions direction.

","Sonoma City Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission approved a permit to remove a coast redwood at 542 Estemadera Drive after staff and the homeowner described root-related damage; the commission allowed replacement with a 24-inch box tree (preferred) or other options and voted 7–1.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission hears updates on signage, irrigation survey, Measure M funds and parks department planning

Commission asks City Council to initiate amendment of Chapter 12.08 (tree ordinance) to allow administrative tree removals

Commission OKs replacement of plaza benches with single-piece wood seats and paint finish

Commission adopts recommended city tree list for residential replacement and planting

Commission approves removal of large redwood at 542 Estemadera Drive, requires 24-inch replacement option