NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Sonora Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing at City Hall, 94 N. Washington Street, Sonora, on Monday April 27th at 5:30pm to consider the following projects:
- Tobacco Retail License (TRL): The City of Sonora currently lacks a regulatory framework to effectively monitor and enforce tobacco retail activities. To address this, the proposed Ordinance 916 proposes Chapter 8.90 introducing a licensing system for tobacco retailers within the County. This ordinance is intended to curb unlawful sales practices and ensure compliance with local, state, and federal tobacco control laws, with a focus on preventing access to tobacco products by minors.
CEQA Determination: TRL- This ordinance is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15061(b)(3). As the project will require tobacco retailers to obtain a license and will not result in any physical changes to a building or property, there will be no impact on the environment.
- Safety Element Update: The Safety Element Update (SEU) analyzes potential natural and human-caused hazards to safety in the City and provides goals, policies, and actions to minimize these hazards. The SEU evaluates hazards that may affect existing and future development and growth and provides guidelines for protecting the community and minimizing harm to the extent feasible. The goal of the SEU is to reduce the risk of injury, death, property loss, and other hardships to acceptable levels. Periodic updates of the Safety Element ensure that goals and policies remain relevant and responsive to community needs, hazard situations, and State law.
The City’s SEU addresses hazards of concern relevant to the City and provides goals, policies, and implementation measures to adapt to and minimize these hazards. The 2024 Sonora SEU was developed in conjunction with the development of the 2024 City of Sonora Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP).
CEQA Determination: An Initial Study (IS) has been prepared pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the Safety Element Update. Based on the results of the IS, it has been determined that the Project would not have a significant effect on the environment. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Report is not required, and a Negative Declaration (ND) has been prepared.
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15072(g)(5), this notice must disclose whether any listed toxic sites are present. As noted in the Section 9, Hazards and Hazardous Materials, of the IS/ND, the project site (citywide in City of Sonora) includes the following sites included on a list of hazardous materials sites compiled pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5: 16 hazardous waste sites, 5 of which are open. However, the Safety Element Update does not propose development on any of these sites.
Public Hearing: The City of Sonora Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing on Monday April 27, 2026 at 5:30pm in City Hall to consider making a recommendation to the City Council for adoption of Ordinance 916 Tobacco Retail License and the Safety Element Update.
This meeting is physically open to the public. Pursuant to State law, challenges in court to actions on the above proposal may be limited to issues raised during public hearings or meetings conducted on the matter, or in correspondence submitted prior to the start of the meeting.
Upon request, the agenda and the documents in the meeting agenda packet can be made available to persons with a disability. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City encourages those with disabilities to participate fully in the meeting process. Any person requiring special assistance to participate in the meeting should call 209-532-4541 at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the meeting.
Document Availability: