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Sonoma, CA – February 16, 2024 — The City of Sonoma is pleased to announce the commencement of the application period for various commissions and committees following the recent updates to the Commission & Committee Appointment Process. At their meeting on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, the City Council adopted the revised City Council Commission & Committee Appointment Policy and Ordinance 01-2024 making changes to the Sonoma Municipal Code.
The comprehensive changes to the appointment process aim to simplify procedures and formalize critical aspects that were previously not addressed. Residents interested in understanding the intricacies of these changes can access the recorded discussions on the CivicWeb Portal (sonomacity.civicweb.net/Portal/) from the meetings held on December 6, 2023, January 17, 2024, and February 7, 2024.
Significant changes incorporated into the revised policy include amendments to attendance requirements, commission composition, council member appointments, elimination of certain positions, and modifications to the terms and voting privileges for youth members. A summary of the key changes is provided below:
Attendance (Sonoma Municipal Code Section 2.40.010):
- Amended to apply only to At-Large Members.
Commission Composition (Sonoma Municipal Code Sections 2.48.020, 2.50.020, 2.56.020, 2.60.020, and 10.12.080):
- All commissions, including the Traffic Safety Committee, will now consist of seven members.
- All direct appointees must be residents of the City of Sonoma.
- Two At-large members, with one required to be from Sonoma Valley as defined in the policy.
Council Member Appointments:
- Council Members can now make direct appointments at any time during their Council Comments without it being a formal agenda item.
Elimination of Positions:
- Except for the Planning Commission, the Alternate position is dissolved.
- The Non-voting PROS Arborist position is dissolved.
Youth Members:
- Terms are now two years starting in October.
- Youth members now have voting privileges, though their votes will not impact the motion’s outcome.
- Youth Member’s presence will not count towards establishing a quorum.
With these changes in place, the City of Sonoma is excited to invite individuals from the community to actively participate in shaping local governance. Available positions on City and Regional boards and commissions provide an opportunity for citizens to contribute their expertise and insights to influence important decisions.
Currently, open positions include two at-large positions on the Climate Action Commission, Design Review & Historic Preservation Commission, Parks, Recreation & Open Space Commission, and Traffic Safety Committee. Interested individuals are encouraged to apply electronically through the City’s Civic Web Portal at sonomacity.civicweb.net by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 7, 2024.
For inquiries and additional information, please contact Sonoma City Clerk Rebekah Barr at (707) 938-3681 or via email at cityhall@sonomacity.org. Further details about City Commissions and Committees, eligibility requirements and an instructional video on how to submit an application online, can be found on the official city website at www.sonomacity.org/departments/commissions-committees.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Sarah Tracy, PIO
stracy@sonomacity.org
707-338-3759