The City’s municipal code requires that one off-street parking space with an all-weather surface shall be provided for the exclusive use of the ADU, in addition to the parking that is required for the primary dwelling. The parking space for the ADU may be allowed in the driveway and in tandem. However, the parking requirement … Continued
Yes, a building permit is required for all proposed dwelling unit types. Fire-Resistive Construction. Pursuant to Section R302of the CA Residential Code as amended by the City of Sonoma, Dwelling units in two-family dwellings shall be separated from each other by wall and floor assemblies having not less than a 1-hour fire-resistance rating where tested in … Continued
Written protests can be mailed to the City Clerk or delivered in person. If you would like to protest these proposed water rates, you need to send a signed, written (not emailed) protest to the office of the City Clerk of the City of Sonoma by 6 pm on Wed- day, October 4, 2023. You … Continued
The City sent letters to all the utility account holders (rate payers) in addition to all the property owners. If you own your home and are a water customer, you may get two letters. This occurred when there were differences between the name listed on the water account and the name listed on the County … Continued
The property owner and the customer receiving water can file a protest. However, only one protest per property will be counted.
State law allows water agencies to pass-through to their customers the cost to fund increases in wholesale water costs imposed by agencies like the Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA). The City’s 2018 rate study estimated annual wholesale water costs increases from SCWA of 6% a year. If actual SCWA charges are higher, State law allows the … Continued
California voters adopted Proposition 218 in November 1996 to amend the State Constitution to establish the process by which public agencies can raise taxes or service fees. It requires greater public involvement in water rate-making. Among other things, Proposition 218 requires the City to mail a notice of proposed water rates to every property owner … Continued
The City’s water utility owns $16.4 million in infrastructure that is used to deliver water. A reliable and safe water system is a valuable asset and an essential element of the quality of life in Sonoma. Approximately $7.4 million of capital improvement projects are planned over the next five years to replace aging water mains, … Continued
New development does pay a one-time connection fee to “buy in” to the system. New development is also required to pay for and install infrastructure required to serve it. Capital improvements funded by customers’ rates are needed to maintain and improve the water sys- tem for the benefit of current users, not to serve new … Continued
Legal changes required this surcharge to end. However, the City has included charges to customers at higher elevations (all of whom are outside the City) to reflect the higher cost to operate pumps to serve those elevations. This affects customers in the hills around the Thornsberry area (Zone 2 on City water maps). These are … Continued
