Notice of Office(s) to Be Filled and Measure(s) to Be Voted On (City of Sonoma)

Published: July 09, 2020

Notice is hereby given that a general municipal election will be held in the City of Sonoma on Tuesday, the 3rd day of November, 2020, for the following office(s):

OFFICE	NO. TO BE ELECTED	TERM OF OFFICE	QUALIFICATIONS
Member, City Council	2	4 yrs	Registered Voter in the City

Official nomination petitions for eligible candidates desiring to file for the above office(s) may be obtained from the Office of the City Clerk, No. 1 The Plaza, Sonoma, beginning July 13, 2020, through August 7, 2020, during regular business hours as posted, by appointment only.

If nomination papers for an incumbent elective officer of the City are not filed by close of business on August 7, 2020, the voters shall have until the close of business on August 12, 2020, to nominate candidates other than the incumbent for such elective office. If no one or only one person is nominated for an elected office (or, in the case of an office to be elected at large, the number of persons nominated does not exceed the number of seats to be filled), appointment to the elective office may be made as prescribed by Elections Code §10229.

Notice is also hereby given that the following measures are to be voted on at the general municipal election to be held in the City of Sonoma, on Tuesday, the 3rd day of November, 2020:

Measure _____

To continue funding general city services, including: emergency preparedness, infrastructure, street maintenance, parks, open space, community services, ambulance services, public safety, and supporting Sonoma’s quality of life, shall the City of Sonoma (1) extend the existing voter approved sales tax of 0.50% (estimated $2,580,000 annually) on an ongoing basis until ended by voters, with no increase to the current rate, and (2) increase the City’s annual appropriations limit by sales tax revenues for the next four years?

YES

Measure _____

To continue existing protections provided by the current Urban Growth Boundary (“UGB”), such as preventing urban sprawl and preserving agricultural land and open space, shall the City of Sonoma extend its UGB until December 31, 2040, and, require that future changes to the UGB be approved by the voters except under limited circumstances requiring a 4/5ths vote of the Council?

YES

Measure _____

To provide funding for general City services including, but not limited to, police, fire, roads, parks, and recreation, shall the City on an ongoing basis tax cannabis (marijuana) and hemp businesses at annual rates not to exceed 4% of gross receipts for all cannabis businesses, including, but not limited to, retail (estimated $200,000 annually all funds used locally), and increase the City’s appropriations limit for Fiscal Years 2020/21-2023/24 by the amount of the tax?

YES

Measure _____

Shall the Initiative Measure amending the Municipal Code to permit personal cannabis cultivation on all residential properties and establishment and operation of cannabis businesses within the City, including commercial cultivation, manufacturing, retail, delivery, distribution, testing, and special events be adopted?

YES

Any written arguments for or against the measures to be submitted to the voters must be filed with the Office of the City Clerk, No. 1 The Plaza, Sonoma. The deadline for filing an argument is August 17, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. Arguments must be accompanied by a Statement of Accuracy, available from the City Clerk, signed and dated by the author(s). Arguments shall not exceed 300 words.

If an argument in favor of and an argument against the measures are submitted, copies will be mailed to the respective authors in order that they may submit a rebuttal argument. Rebuttal arguments must also be accompanied by a Statement of Accuracy, signed and dated by the author(s). The deadline for filing a rebuttal argument is August 27, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. Rebuttal arguments shall not exceed 250 words.

Voting locations will be open on Election Day between the hours of 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, voting locations will also be open for limited times on the three days prior to Election Day. Specific hours for those days will be announced closer to Election Day.

For further information and to schedule an appointment, please contact the City Clerk’s Office by phone at (707) 933-2216 or by email at rbarr@sonomacity.org.

s/ Rebekah Barr

City Clerk

Dated: July 1, 2020

SEAL

*Posted by law in an adjudicated newspaper