Council candidate Ron Wellander wants ‘good change’ for Sonoma

After more than five years on the Sonoma Planning Commission, Ron Wellander is ready for a promotion.

And thus the 37-year Sonoma resident is seeking one of three open City Council seats on the Nov. 8 ballot.

With his time on the Planning Commission – two as chair, with another five years prior on the Design Review & Historic Preservation Commission – Wellander believes he has “a good understanding of how City Hall works” and can bring some stability to the council, which has had a revolving door of members in recent years, topped by a series of short-term or interim city managers.

“The combination of shuffling the seats of city manager from interim to new hire back to interim” has slowed progress on a litany of important issues, said Wellander. “It’s become evident the role the city manager plays is critical as to what gets done at City Hall,” he said.

He believes his 10 years of service on city commissions makes him particularly qualified in the hiring process for a new manager. “A city manager has to be a good leader, effective communicator and a collaborator with the city council,” said Wellander. “And possess the strength to identify priorities and delegate those tasks to support staff.”

Adds Wellander: “And, lastly, to hold people accountable to get work done right.”

His list of city priorities is long and includes both support for affordable housing, as well as incentivizing the creation of “missing middle” housing opportunities in the city. Wellander, 67, moved with his family to Sonoma in 1985 back when residents had a “broader socio-economic profile.” He says he’s been fortunate that his three adult children and six grandkids have been able to remain predominately in the area, but not every family is as lucky.

He also highlights his support for local businesses and the downtown commercial district – the Sebastiani Theatre is a particular favorite – as well as streamlining the city’s planning and building permit processes.

He hopes his 40-year career in landscape architecture is of interest to voters excited about the city’s intent to establish a Sonoma Plaza Master Plan, a long-term vision for the upkeep, enhancement and funding of the historic Plaza.

“We can create an overall master plan that include al fresco dining and opportunities for better pedestrian circulation,” Wellander said. “That to me is really exciting.”

Wellander views it as creating a “roadmap” to keep the Plaza a sustainable public space.

“The Plaza is predominately landscape, trees, lawn and shrubs,” said Wellander. “My experience is landscapes are either improving or declining.”

The Plaza has been in the latter category for some time, he said, comparing its deterioration to “the slow drip of a faucet sink.”

“We need a comprehensive plan to look at what improvement we do - reforestation, adding trees — and how do we sequence these incremental improvements,” Wellander said.

Also near the top of his priority list is finding ways to mitigate state government “overreach” when it comes to local planning authority. “I would love to push back,” he said, referring to recent bills passed by the state legislature which minimize some degree of planning oversight by local jurisdictions.

“I would rather have Sacramento ask us to produce X number of units - affordable and market (rate) – in eight years, and then go back to Sacramento and leave us alone,” he said. If, after that time, the city hasn’t achieved its goals, “then come back and force us to rezone densities and minimize setbacks,” etc.

“We happen to have a historic town with a sense of community and an inviting scale that needs to be recognized and preserved,” said Wellander.

“There’s going to be change. But we want good change.”

Email Jason Walsh at Jason.walsh@sonomanews.com.