MINUTES
JOINT MEETING OF THE COTATI CITY COUNCIL AND THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO
THE FORMER COTATI COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
City Council Chamber, City Hall 201 W. Sierra Avenue
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
6:00 PM REGULAR MEETING
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Harvey called the meeting to order 6:00pm.
2. ROLL CALL
Attendee Name Title Status
Susan Harvey Mayor Present
Laura Sparks Vice Mayor Present
Ben Ford Councilmember Present
Sylvia Lemus Councilmember Present
Kay Rivers Councilmember Present
Staff Present: City Manager Damien O’Bid, City Attorney John Bakker, Deputy City Clerk Kevin Patterson, Director of Administrative Services Angela Courter, Director of Community Development Noah Housh, Director of Public Works/City Engineer Craig Scott, Associate Planner Autumn Buss, Recreation Manager Ashley Wilson
3. LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The City of Cotati recognizes that we’re on the ancestral lands of the Coastal Miwok, who are the original caretakers of this area. We respectfully acknowledge the Indigenous peoples who have been stewarding and maintaining a relationship on this land as knowledge keepers for millennia. This acknowledgement does not take the place of authentic relationships with Indigenous communities but serves as a gesture of respect to the land we are on.
4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND NOTICE OF WAIVING OF READING OF ALL
RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES INTRODUCED AND/OR ADOPTED UNDER THIS
AGENDA (ACTION)
A. COTATI CITY COUNCIL - REGULAR MEETING - NOV 14, 2023 6:00 PM Cotati City Council Minutes November 28, 2023
RESULT: Approve [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Laura Sparks, Vice Mayor
SECONDER: Sylvia Lemus, Councilmember
AYES: Harvey, Sparks, Ford, Lemus, Rivers
NAYS: None
6. ANNOUNCEMENTS
A. Meeting Orientation for New Attendees/Viewers. In conformance with the Brown Act and the adopted City Council Rules, the meeting agenda includes items labeled as Action Items, where the City Council will consider the item and citizens are afforded the opportunity to provide comments relevant to the item being discussed. The meeting agenda also includes a Citizens Business item, which is the designated place on the agenda where citizens have the right to say whatever they wish.
The City Council may, or may not, choose to respond to comments, as the Government Code allows.
However, if the City Council declines to respond, it should not be perceived as giving credence to or agreeing with any statements that the City Council or its members believe are incorrect, misinformed or purposefully biased.
B. Measure S supports police services, a variety of recreation programs for all ages, and the maintenance of our streets, parks, and public buildings. See details on the web at cotaticity.org C. Citizens interested in receiving City of Cotati community alerts via text or email are encouraged to sign up with CivicReady, by signing up on the City website, www.cotaticity.org, under the “How do I” link at the top of the homepage.
D. Like always, we love to hear from you, so please feel free to contact the City at 707-792-4600 or [email protected]. If you have a non-emergency issue after normal business hours, you can contact us at 707-792-4611 and of course if you have an emergency, please contact 9-1-1. Continue to look for updates on the City's website and social media channels available on Facebook, Instagram, and CivicReady.
7. APPROVAL OF FINAL AGENDA (ACTION)
No changes.
No public comment.
8. CITIZEN BUSINESS AND PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS Any member of the public wishing to speak to the Council on any item(s) listed on the Consent Calendar or any matter(s) not listed on the agenda that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Council may do so at this time. Pursuant to the Brown Act, the Council is not allowed to consider issues or take action on any item not listed on the agenda during this period. Pursuant to City Council Policy 2023-01, comments of any member of the public are normally restricted to a total of three (3) minutes in length per person for matters not on the agenda and a total of three (3) minutes per person in length for any and all items on the Consent Calendar. The Mayor may extend the time limit for a reasonable time where a disability accommodation has been requested. To facilitate public comment, the Clerk will alert speakers when there are thirty seconds remaining.
9. CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
A. 2023 Agricultural Community Events Farmers Markets Downtown Shop and Stroll Holiday Event
Cotati City Council Minutes November 28, 2023
B. Agreement with LandCare USA to restore the La Plaza Demonstration Garden RESULT: Adopt [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Ben Ford, Councilmember
SECONDER: Sylvia Lemus, Councilmember
AYES: Harvey, Sparks, Ford, Lemus, Rivers
NAYS: None
10. DIRECTION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Lemus requested a future agenda item on standing in the Chamber while the Land Acknowledgement is read.
11. PUBLIC HEARINGS (ACTION)
A. CONSIDERATION, FIRST READING AND INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE
ESTABLISHING THE SENIOR MOBILEHOME PARK OVERLAY ZONE BY AMENDING TITLE 17 (LAND USE) OF THE COTATI MUNICIPAL CODE, AND DESIGNATING THE PROPERTY AT 425 W. SIERRA AVENUE WITH THE SENIOR
MOBILEHOME PARK OVERLAY DESIGNATION
RESULT: Approve [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Sylvia Lemus, Councilmember
SECONDER: Kay Rivers, Councilmember
AYES: Harvey, Sparks, Ford, Lemus, Rivers
NAYS: None
Presentation by Assistant Planner Autumn Buss.
Councilmembers comment.
Public comment:
Wayne Randall of Cotati
Marni Cashuba of Cotati
After discussion, Council elected to introduce the Ordinance as presented, with a request for staff to bring back revisions at a later date clarifying the rules around multi-member households who become non-compliant with the zoning overlay when the qualified member of their household passes away, divorces, or has a similar life-altering event.
12. REGULAR AGENDA (ACTION)
A. RATIFICATION OF NOMINEE FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE MEASURE S
CITIZEN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
RESULT: Approve [5 TO 0]
Cotati City Council Minutes November 28, 2023
MOVER: Sylvia Lemus, Councilmember
SECONDER: Ben Ford, Councilmember
AYES: Harvey, Sparks, Ford, Lemus, Rivers
NAYS: None
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers comment.
Public comment:
Taunya Moore of Cotati
By motion, Council approved Councilmember Rivers’ nomination of Taunya Moore to the Measure S Citizen Oversight Committee.
B. AGREEMENT FOR AN INTERIM POLICE CHIEF
RESULT: Adopt [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Sylvia Lemus, Councilmember
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Vice Mayor
AYES: Harvey, Sparks, Ford, Lemus, Rivers
NAYS: None
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Marni Cashuba of Cotati
Hank Schreeder
C. OUTDOOR EQUITY GRANTS PROGRAM APPLICATION
RESULT: Adopt [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Kay Rivers, Councilmember
SECONDER: Sylvia Lemus, Councilmember
AYES: Harvey, Ford, Lemus, Rivers
NAYS:
RECUSED:
None
Sparks
Councilmember Sparks recused herself from the item, as she is employed by the Earth and Space Sciences department at Santa Rosa Junior College, which would be partnering with the City should the grant application be successful.
Presentation by Recreation Manager Ashley Wilson.
Councilmembers comment.
No public comment.
Cotati City Council Minutes November 28, 2023
13. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
Report by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
14. CITY COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS
Councilmembers report out on local and regional events and meetings.
15. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-ACTION AGENDA ITEMS
16. CLOSED SESSION
A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—ANTICIPATED LITIGATION (GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9(D)(4).) 1 CASE
Mayor Harvey adjourned to closed session at 7:33pm.
17. REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Harvey announced that there was nothing to report out of closed session.
18. INFORMATION RECEIVED AFTER THE AGENDA WAS POSTED
A. INFORMATION RECEIVED AFTER THE AGENDA WAS POSTED
19. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Harvey adjourned the meeting at 8:35pm
/s/ Kevin Patterson, Deputy City Clerk