The Special City Council meeting held on April 21, 2025, in Sonoma focused on critical issues affecting local emergency services and federal support systems. Key discussions centered around the challenges faced by fire services, particularly regarding funding and staffing.

Chief Acre, a member of the California State Fire Chiefs Association, highlighted three main concerns. First, he addressed the importance of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) reimbursements, emphasizing that these programs, designed by Cal Chief members, are vital for sustaining emergency services in California. He expressed worries about potential cuts to Medicare and Medicaid that could jeopardize these reimbursements.

Second, Chief Acre underscored the role of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in disaster recovery. He noted that Sonoma County has frequently relied on FEMA for federal funding during emergencies, and any reduction in FEMA's capacity would pose significant risks to local recovery efforts.

Lastly, he pointed out the staffing issues within the U.S. Forest Service, which has seen a decline in personnel at fire stations. With up to 40% of these stations unstaffed, the burden of responding to large-scale incidents increasingly falls on local responders like Cal Fire, which cannot fully compensate for the federal shortfall.

Council members echoed these concerns, particularly regarding the need for a united front to advocate against proposed cuts to FEMA and other critical programs. They discussed the importance of collaboration with other states to garner support from lawmakers, especially those with Republican affiliations, to address these pressing issues.

The meeting concluded with a call for continued dialogue and action to ensure that Sonoma's emergency services remain robust and adequately funded, highlighting the community's reliance on these essential services during crises. The council plans to reconvene shortly to further discuss these matters.