A citizen-driven ballot initiative defeated the project in September. But now the city is working with resort opponents to build a public trail on the property, and it will be studying the potential health hazards of an old city garbage dump on the site. Both efforts will be in the planning stages in the year ahead. Another new trail will soon begin taking shape. The 1.2-mile Nathanson Creek Trail will run from East MacArthur Street, through Sonoma Valley High School, to Nathanson Creek Park and Napa Road.
Plans call for the trail to grow once more property is acquired.
Growth issues will continue to be in the forefront in Sonoma. A citizens group has been gathering signatures to establish an urban growth boundary around Sonoma. If their petition is certified, the measure would appear on the November ballot. It would forbid the city from growing beyond its current sphere of influence. Critics say the measure would do little to help the city because adjoining unincorporated communities would continue to grow unheeded.