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Sonoma City Council adopts resolution to begin transition to district-based elections
Summary
The Sonoma City Council voted 4-0-1 on Dec. 4 to adopt a resolution initiating the process to move from at-large to district-based council elections, authorizing the city manager to contract a demographer (not to exceed $50,000) and directing funding from the general fund reserve to the elections account.
The Sonoma City Council on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, voted 4-0-1 to adopt a resolution declaring the city’s intent to transition from at-large elections to district-based elections and authorized the city manager to select and execute an agreement with a professional demographer in an amount not to exceed $50,000.
The resolution, approved to avoid potential litigation costs under the California Voting Rights Act, also included a tentative timeline that calls for public mapping hearings and aims to return to the council with district maps in March. Councilmember Dean was absent for the vote.
City Attorney David Ruderman told the council that the resolution starts a process allowed under the California Voting Rights Act and the state Elections Code. Ruderman said the move would let the city use…
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