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New faces join council, Gurney selected mayor
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| IN — Guy Wilson and Kathleen Shaffer take the oath of office. - Photo by George Snyder |
by George Snyder
Sonoma West Staff Writer
SEBASTOPOL – New city council members Kathleen Shaffer and Guy Wilson took an oath of office and their seats amid applause from a standing room only crowd and praise for those leaving the dais from their supporters Tuesday night.
The city council also confirmed Ordinance 1013, the city’s new Utility Users Tax, approved by the voters Nov. 4. The tax will impose a four percent levy to commercial and residential users based on monthly residential and commercial electric and gas charges.
The $375,000 expected to be raised by the tax, according to city officials, will be used to maintain and upgrade city streets, municipal buildings and other public resources.
Most of the night’s attention, however, was fixed on the swearing in of Wilson and Shaffer, who defeated appointed incumbent Jen Thille, picked last May to fill former councilmember Sam Pierce’s seat following his resignation, and candidate Colleen Fernald.
In addition to Pierce’s seat, out-going Mayor Craig Litwin declined to run for re-election on the council, leaving his seat open.
The council, in addition to seating the new members, also installed councilmember Sarah Glade Gurney, who had preceded Litwin as mayor, for another spin at the mayoral job.
Vice-mayor Linda Kelley, who would have normally moved into the mayor’s slot, instead nominated Gurney for the mayor’s slot. Kelley, in turn, was renominated as Vice-Mayor. There were no other nominations put forward and the vote was unanimous.
Although left unspoken during the brief ceremonies, the specter of the North East Area Specific Plan, which may be taken up as early as the next council meeting, floated as an invisible cloud in the room, with one observer, Sebastopol insurance man Alan Horn, a NEAP critic, predicting big changes in the public discussion concerning the controversial matter.
The Northeast Plan aside, most of the conversation was congratulatory for both new and outgoing council members, including praise by Kelley for outgoing mayor Litwin.
All of the council members voiced hopes of working together with one another and the community at large.
Councilmember Larry Robinson, a Thille supporter, thanked her for “stepping up to the plate,” during a difficult time “for her service and commitment for doing what you have to do for the future of Sebastopol. There was a big hole and you stepped in” to fill it.
Thille, meanwhile, said, “it has been a privilege” to work on the council and on the city’s planning commission before her elevation to the council, calling it a “wild ride and a remarkable opportunity,” and recommended other residents to take part in civic life.
Robinson, like Thille and former Mayor Craig Litwin, have been strong supporters of the Northeast Plan. Wilson, Kelley, Gurney and Shaffer are either opposed to the plan or would like to see changes in its structure.
Robinson also had high praise for Litwin, calling him “inspirational,” and said it has been a “privilege” to work with him for the last ten years, saying Litwin brought humor and integrity to the council during his stay, particularly during his stint as mayor especially when politics caused an ill wind to blow through the council at times.
For his part, Litwin said he “was grateful to have grown up here and learn to understand” the town and its political nature. “It’s a small town,” he said, “and everyone gives.”
Robinson also had kind words for Shaffer, saying he was “delighted” to be able to work with her, and told Wilson he admired his “commitment and integrity” over the years.
In other news, Kelley was successful in suggesting the council to write and send a letter to the Sonoma County Bar Association asking for a Amicus Curiae letter in support of petitions challenging Proposition 8, which outlawed same sex marriage, and to explore, if the city has legal standing, to join in with several other cities, including West Hollywood, Santa Cruz and San Francisco in producing an Amended Petition challenging Prop 8, which is currently before the California Supreme Court.
The city council also confirmed Ordinance 1013, the city’s new Utility Users Tax, approved by the voters Nov. 4. The tax will impose a four percent levy to commercial and residential users based on monthly residential and commercial electric and gas charges.
The $375,000 expected to be raised by the tax, according to city officials, will be used to maintain and upgrade city streets, municipal buildings and other public resources.
Most of the night’s attention, however, was fixed on the swearing in of Wilson and Shaffer, who defeated appointed incumbent Jen Thille, picked last May to fill former councilmember Sam Pierce’s seat following his resignation, and candidate Colleen Fernald.
In addition to Pierce’s seat, out-going Mayor Craig Litwin declined to run for re-election on the council, leaving his seat open.
The council, in addition to seating the new members, also installed councilmember Sarah Glade Gurney, who had preceded Litwin as mayor, for another spin at the mayoral job.
Vice-mayor Linda Kelley, who would have normally moved into the mayor’s slot, instead nominated Gurney for the mayor’s slot. Kelley, in turn, was renominated as Vice-Mayor. There were no other nominations put forward and the vote was unanimous.
Although left unspoken during the brief ceremonies, the specter of the North East Area Specific Plan, which may be taken up as early as the next council meeting, floated as an invisible cloud in the room, with one observer, Sebastopol insurance man Alan Horn, a NEAP critic, predicting big changes in the public discussion concerning the controversial matter.
The Northeast Plan aside, most of the conversation was congratulatory for both new and outgoing council members, including praise by Kelley for outgoing mayor Litwin.
All of the council members voiced hopes of working together with one another and the community at large.
Councilmember Larry Robinson, a Thille supporter, thanked her for “stepping up to the plate,” during a difficult time “for her service and commitment for doing what you have to do for the future of Sebastopol. There was a big hole and you stepped in” to fill it.
Thille, meanwhile, said, “it has been a privilege” to work on the council and on the city’s planning commission before her elevation to the council, calling it a “wild ride and a remarkable opportunity,” and recommended other residents to take part in civic life.
Robinson, like Thille and former Mayor Craig Litwin, have been strong supporters of the Northeast Plan. Wilson, Kelley, Gurney and Shaffer are either opposed to the plan or would like to see changes in its structure.
Robinson also had high praise for Litwin, calling him “inspirational,” and said it has been a “privilege” to work with him for the last ten years, saying Litwin brought humor and integrity to the council during his stay, particularly during his stint as mayor especially when politics caused an ill wind to blow through the council at times.
For his part, Litwin said he “was grateful to have grown up here and learn to understand” the town and its political nature. “It’s a small town,” he said, “and everyone gives.”
Robinson also had kind words for Shaffer, saying he was “delighted” to be able to work with her, and told Wilson he admired his “commitment and integrity” over the years.
In other news, Kelley was successful in suggesting the council to write and send a letter to the Sonoma County Bar Association asking for a Amicus Curiae letter in support of petitions challenging Proposition 8, which outlawed same sex marriage, and to explore, if the city has legal standing, to join in with several other cities, including West Hollywood, Santa Cruz and San Francisco in producing an Amended Petition challenging Prop 8, which is currently before the California Supreme Court.
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