[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6615836,"mediaKeyId","2857823-dfa6a01e084a1baf3737d6381e22d6af","parentId",2857823,"title","Residents press council on Sebastiani property: fire risk, density and land‑use protections urged","audioSeconds",628,"startMs",1402000,"endMs",2030000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2857823-dfa6a01e084a1baf3737d6381e22d6af&start=1402&end=2030","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2857823-dfa6a01e084a1baf3737d6381e22d6af/thumbnail_1402000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6615836/Sonoma-City/Sonoma-County/California/Residents-press-council-on-Sebastiani-property-fire-risk-density-and-landuse-protections-urged","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6615836-dbbf9df11a79c3cff75c80e0e7d71a90/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193821&Signature=kOT5DwVtlxiiVES~JSJkJr-FLpHokf7Fu5it-1IwmGYYCC1JPZyDniuYdml-rN7CFIoX4yojrxNI320JKscjkw-zSYAYzwDVauPdIsDpcQBocTWLRgAYSTBE9tXBS98ya5mSE6m8el7OoUlPlo~R4Xso0f2ynWOy3ws6M01jHeNRVC8jppIwZvwOZy9aoYK84y4EtJe5DQSYoKlUJ3olZ7HGkH9EmyWofoKxkGJdwwtRvzJnvblgZUPyXH~Wk7nA76-EuVolPoacNnEdWIs1XvMGFvBhpizBabFoe976H7UCgcIOvWtkwdAB~GMGd9CMo5hP2633uwAy4k6Fnht-7Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Sonoma, CA","date","2025-04-03T03:16:36.793Z","article","Multiple residents spoke during the non‑agenda public comment period about land‑use proposals for the roughly 22‑acre property commonly referred to as the Sebastiani site east of the plaza. Speakers raised safety, evacuation, density and community‑character concerns and asked the council to protect agricultural parcels and open space.

Janet Boyle, who said she lives across from the property on Brazil Street, focused on safety and fire risk and noted that surrounding parcels were recently reclassified to a \"very high\" fire hazard severity zone. Boyle cited a traffic study for a separate project that she said showed an additional four and a half hours could be required for evacuation in an emergency; she said that lengthened evacuation time is worrying and asked that the city not change the land‑use definition for the four parcels abutting the Sebastiani site. She suggested leaving two parcels as agricultural and turning two parcels designated for wine production into a public park, and asked if the council had engaged Bill Foley about a possible donation similar to one he made in Healdsburg.

Steve MacRostie and other speakers pressed for specific limits in any new \"Sonoma mixed use\" category. MacRostie said the range shown in prior presentations — 7 to 25 units per acre — would represent a dramatic increase from surrounding neighborhood density at the high end and said the draft language has changed over time without a final definition being posted. Others asked that any new land‑use category include a height limit (citing 36 feet as the current mixed‑use maximum), protections for existing grape‑growing agricultural acreage, preservation of green space percentage, restrictions on alterations to historically designated buildings, and application of the city’s formula‑business restrictions.

Bob Flanagan urged that the city apply the same protections used on the plaza to the Sebastiani site: a height ceiling, preservation of green space, protection of vineyard acreage, historic protections and a requirement that retail be \"visitor‑serving\" rather than unrestricted retail.

Resident Ken Stokes said neighbors have attended planning commission and council hearings since December and remain concerned that written definitions have not kept pace with oral presentations and slides. Alice May, who lives across from the property, urged the council to keep the agricultural zoning, warned against turning the area into high‑density commercial development and said preserving open green space is important to local tourism.

City Manager David Guin said staff would take the comments and determine whether the next appropriate forum for discussion is before a commission or returned to city council. Council members thanked the speakers and noted that more detailed language and draft policy definitions will be considered in the appropriate planning process.

Why this matters: residents cited recent CAL FIRE hazard mapping and a traffic study when asking the city to limit density and protect agricultural uses. The comments request specific protections — height limits, open space minimums, agricultural preservation and visitor‑serving retail requirements — that would have to be reflected in any general plan or zoning text amendments.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council - 02 Apr 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Several residents used a non‑agenda comment period to urge the City Council not to change agricultural land‑use designations for the roughly 22‑acre Sebastiani property, citing newly designated high fire hazard severity, a traffic study that showed evacuation-time concerns, and the lack of a final 'Sonoma mixed use' definition.","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},6615841,"Council approves joint‑powers agreement with State Parks to activate Toscano Hotel first floor as visitor center",1045,4421000,5466000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2857823-dfa6a01e084a1baf3737d6381e22d6af&start=4421&end=5466","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2857823-dfa6a01e084a1baf3737d6381e22d6af/thumbnail_4421000.jpg","/articles/6615841/Sonoma-City/Sonoma-County/California/Council-approves-jointpowers-agreement-with-State-Parks-to-activate-Toscano-Hotel-first-floor-as-visitor-center","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6615841-d22db075036bd150c1bda45db22ac15c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193821&Signature=g5NjqA3eIbJLwGjHB26q5bcl43fKRTuTn59dMypYgBhrw5ivTDbQ9AGnCyZnHvGDQfWyY82~HOGq5EjzSDMIMWiz-zGCvkWhSSNvArgDxDYH2O1kk2LVVhW4X6OBdgrZV5-G1DVmFS0-kcWrP-FOPZcgWwJ0bRn1T46nl9Qi3dTSU2t7DIc3L7XCGgm2ebDioDPdHwDiSL~aANVaOOA~-EJRLhZcfqCNrVBSfzBevJxfx0nkq-B4N~GF61kf6WinOJp0gEk1ED5Rnntr-Iw98ciopcKPickf56KSX~TUHdyOQlM0nkW3XQ6Zoby-PSV~wSnXFbHTdXbxbxhnvle1cw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sonoma City Council voted unanimously to approve a joint powers agreement (JPA) with the California State Parks to activate the first floor of the historic Toscano (Toscana/Tuscano in some packet references) Hotel on state park property and to authorize a sublease to the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau.

City Manager David Guin said the agreement would allow the city to activate an underused state‑owned space across from the plaza, remove existing security cages and provide a staffed, regular public presence to display history and help visitors. Matthew Allen, deputy district superintendent for the Bay Area District of California State Parks, said staff had opened the gates during planning discussions and saw consistent public interest. Allen said the activation would let visitors \"get that history\" and learn about local destinations.

Under the JPA presented to the council, the state is not charging the city for the activation use of the first floor; the city would handle cleaning, utilities and regular upkeep. The plan calls for freestanding displays and minimal alterations so the historic fabric is preserved; any work will be coordinated with state park historians. The city intends to sublease the space to the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau so volunteers and bureau staff can operate regular hours.

Councilmembers asked about the sublease language that mentioned investigation and cleanup of hazardous substances. City staff said the JPA assigns responsibility for pre‑occupancy conditions to the state and staff will clean up the sublease language to align with the JPA. The council clarified the JPA is a zero‑cost activation agreement and that any sublease between the city and the visitors bureau would carry a separate lease term and dollar amount to be documented in that sublease.

The council approved a motion authorizing the City Manager to execute the JPA with State Parks and to execute a sublease with the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau for the first floor. The motion carried unanimously.

Why this matters: Activating the space is meant to preserve a historic building by putting it into regular use, create a staffed visitor resource near the plaza, and free up the Carnegie Building for potential city departmental space. City staff said volunteers will be trained with state materials and the visitors bureau will help keep the space open to the public.","The council unanimously approved a joint powers agreement with California State Parks to activate the first floor of the Toscano Hotel (state property) and authorized a sublease to the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau; the state will not charge rent for activation and the city will handle upkeep and utilities.",{"_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},6615845,"Sonoma council adopts district map B3, introduces ordinance to shift to by‑district elections",1302,72000,1374000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2857823-dfa6a01e084a1baf3737d6381e22d6af&start=72&end=1374","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2857823-dfa6a01e084a1baf3737d6381e22d6af/thumbnail_72000.jpg","/articles/6615845/Sonoma-City/Sonoma-County/California/Sonoma-council-adopts-district-map-B3-introduces-ordinance-to-shift-to-bydistrict-elections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6615845-4d5c776f041ab37416ac6d7744f5c67c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193821&Signature=aoTCzWh1aF8TIF3B63Wc8nNTbMemRrDIKTmc~6~zPj4v34JHthKjR9oWTZUTKDAFm7l35BiJ~a9NkQC8LFigLFT7y9-IX-ChksiDCRR6v7eLHymHNihvTF242BtKDoFHr-ELSiUscrr~Ldq5wB5ZCTksQLR82tJDM-HikccaIt1DVc1YkgOIixo5PdKsUE9O1A8PyUqfsLwTSCevuj1S3m84rwCSE5zA0bE127YQwhi5cEjcah6eE937eAhiIvSGHmTbG9wFY2Z5pyN6bAL5m86W1eVMP7uJ-1ZrjHSNe75iSIxRMzb1rF0iLGES-eDLIYzBRkXW6DoTIrRvhuttkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sonoma City Council on a unanimous vote introduced an ordinance adopting map B3 and the numbering shown on the map to change the city's council elections from at‑large to by‑district under the California Voting Rights Act.

The action follows the fifth public hearing in a series required by state law and a public review process that included five hearings and outreach. City Manager David Guin and a consultant from a redistricting firm presented the single final map, which the city described as contiguous, compact and preserving identified communities of interest such as mobile home communities, West Side renters and the Historic Plaza area. The map has a total population deviation of 5.7 percent; the city noted that is below the 10 percent maximum commonly used for such plans.

City Manager David Guin said the proposed ordinance and the technical files will be submitted to the county registrar for implementation if council confirms the map and sequencing. Liz, a consultant from the redistricting team, told the council, \"Tonight is the night where we vote on the final map.\" The staff-recommended sequencing staggers elections so odd-numbered districts are up in 2026 and even-numbered districts are up in 2028, allowing two at‑large seats to complete their terms during the transition.

During public comment several residents expressed concerns about dividing a small city into districts. Bill Borum said the change felt driven by outside pressure and asked whether councilmembers are distributed across the new districts. He said, \"it's very unfortunate that our small city of 10,000 plus people end up being carved up.\" Another resident, Ken Stokes, questioned the district numbering and sequencing and suggested a different numbering to avoid having the entire east side and then the entire west side up for election in the same year.

Council discussion noted how the map and sequencing affect sitting members: staff identified one district that does not contain a current councilmember (the orange District 1 on the staff display), and one district that contains two current councilmembers (the red District 3). Council members said the numbering was intended to place districts that have incumbents running in 2026 in the odd grouping so incumbency and terms are managed during the transition. The council also discussed map criteria including equal population, contiguity and keeping communities of interest intact.

Councilmembers then moved to adopt the map and the numbering and to introduce the ordinance. During the roll call, the council approved a friendly amendment to the resolution that removed one recital line that stated \"the public interest would be better served by transitioning\"; the amendment was accepted on the record before the adoption vote. The introduction motion carried unanimously.

City Manager Guin said the next steps are to finalize the ordinance language, deliver the ordinance and technical files to the county registrar, and implement the new district-based election structure for the 2026 cycle as described in the ordinance. The council also encouraged residents interested in running for the seats to prepare for the newly districted elections.

Why this matters: shifting to district-based elections changes who votes for each seat, can alter electoral dynamics, and is the mechanism cities use to comply with state law when litigation or demand letters raise concerns under the California Voting Rights Act. The council adopted a map that staff said balances legal requirements and local communities of interest while keeping population deviation low.","The Sonoma City Council voted unanimously to introduce an ordinance adopting map B3 to move city council elections from at‑large to by‑district under the California Voting Rights Act, setting a staggered election sequence and accepting a small population deviation of 5.7%.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents press council on Sebastiani property: fire risk, density and land‑use protections urged

Council approves joint‑powers agreement with State Parks to activate Toscano Hotel first floor as visitor center

Sonoma council adopts district map B3, introduces ordinance to shift to by‑district elections