Sonoma City Council to consider Plaza street closures

The Sonoma City Council will meet remotely at 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 3, returning to action after almost a month off in July.

The main topic of discussion will be the current trial run of the closure of a portion of First Street East south of the Plaza, and the potential for the closure of one Plaza-facing city street once a month on a Friday or Saturday evening from 5 to 9 p.m.

For the past week, Maya restaurant and Pangloss Cellars have spread tables out into First Street East and the road has been closed to traffic. According to Mayor Logan Harvey, the council is slated to discuss the results of this ongoing trial run and the possible indefinite extension of the closure.

Council and city staff will also discuss “additional re-opening and recovery” measures that Harvey describes as being at the nexus of public safety and economic recovery, including permitting canopies to be installed over outdoor seating areas on public sidewalks and city streets, and the trial closure of one of the streets east, west or north of the Plaza, namely First Street East, First Street West or Spain Street.

At the Aug. 3 meeting, the council will also continue its "Celebrate Sonoma" program by honoring Geraldine “Gery” Rosemurgy of Broadway Quilts.

The meeting will be live streamed on the city’s CivicWeb Portal (sonomacity.civicweb.net) and on its YouTube channel. Learn how to submit public comments at sonomacity.civicweb.net. To join the meeting via Zoom Video Conferencing, visit: zoom.us/j/94943925973 or call 669-900-9128 and entering meeting ID 949-4392-5973.

Contact Lorna at lorna.sheridan@sonomanews.com.