Preserving Sonoma Delivers 1,600-Plus Signatures to City Clerk

The Preserving Sonoma Committee, backers of a ballot initiative limiting the size of new hotels in Sonoma to 25 rooms until the city's annual occupancy rate exceeds 80%, today submitted petitions including 1,600 signatures to Sonoma's City Clerk, initiating the verification process leading to a special election.

"When I appeared before the City Council this Spring when we announced our effort, City Council member [Tom] Rouse expressed some uncertainty as to the likelihood of our securing sufficient signatures to get the Hotel Limitation Measure on the ballot,” said Larry Barnett, Chair of Preserving Sonoma Committee.  “I assured him getting voter support would be no problem, and predicted we would do it quickly."

By turning in well over the required 1,012 valid signatures in just seven weeks, Preserving Sonoma volunteers easily beat the maximum term of six months to gather signatures.

"We could have signed up 50% of the registered voters in Sonoma if we kept going,” said Barnett. Such a number might have had influence over the City Council itself, which could avoid a special election by accepting the terms of the initiative.

When asked if there were any likelihood the City Council would enact the petition’s terms, however,  Barnett said, “I would say close to none.”

To qualify for a special election 1,012 valid signatures are required, equal to 15% of the registered voters in Sonoma. Only signatures from registered voters residing in the City qualify.

"We have checked every signature against the list of registered voters provided by the County Registrar of Voters, and we have far more than needed to qualify for the special election," Barnett noted.

"We've been gathering over 200 signatures a week,” said Barnett. “Over 40 unpaid volunteers and widespread community support deserve all the credit," he added.