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, January 09, 2024
6:00 PM REGULAR MEETING
1. CALL TO ORDER
Due to technical difficulties that delayed the start of the meeting, Mayor Sparks called the meeting to order at 6:36pm.
2. ROLL CALL
Attendee Name Title Status
Laura Sparks Mayor Present
Ben Ford Vice Mayor Present
Susan Harvey Councilmember Present
Sylvia Lemus Councilmember Present
Kathleen Rivers Councilmember Present
Staff Present: City Manager Damien O’Bid, Assistant City Attorney Ali Wolfe, Deputy City Clerk Kevin Patterson, Administrative Assistant Sonia Sanchez, Director of Administrative Services Angela Courter, Director of Community Development Noah Housh, Director of Public Works/City Engineer Craig Scott, Lieutenant Paul Goodin, Senior Planner JP Harries
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
4. 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 – DEC 12, 2023 6 PM
5. 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. 13 of 392
Cotati City Council Minutes January 09, 2024
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’s 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.
6. APPROVAL OF FINAL AGENDA (ACTION)
Due to the technical difficulties, City Manager O’Bid recommended to continue all items on the Consent Calendar, as well as the Public Hearing, to the next Regular Council meeting on January 23, 2024.
7. 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.
8. CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
Due to the technical difficulties, all consent items continued to January 23, 2024. City Council opened public comment, but no vote/action taken by the Council.
A. RESOLUTION APPOINTING THE ENGINEER OF WORK FOR PREPARING THE COTATI LANDSCAPE AND LIGHTING ASSESSMENT DISTRICT FOR FY 24-25 It is recommended that the City Council of the City of Cotati adopt a resolution appointing the City Engineer, as the Engineer of Work for the FY 2024-25 Cotati Landscape and Lighting District and directing the preparation and filing of the Annual Engineer's Report pursuant to Section 22622 of the Streets and Highways Code.
B. AWARD OF THE CYPRESS AVENUE SEWER REPAIR PROJECT
It is recommended the City Council adopt a resolution accepting the bid protest, awarding construction contract for the Cypress Avenue Sewer Repairs Project to Corcus Construction, Inc., and authorizing the City Manager to execute any needed change orders or amendments for both the construction contract and construction management professional agreement up to the authorized project budget.
C. APPOINTMENT OF JOINT REPRESENTATIVES FROM COTATI AND ROHNERT
PARK TO THE HOMELESS COALITION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
D. PROCLAMATION SCHEDULE FOR 2024
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a motion approving a proclamation schedule for 2024.
9. DIRECTION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Cotati City Council Minutes January 09, 2024
Mayor Sparks requested a future agenda item on Audio/Visual system issues in the Council Chamber.
10. REGULAR AGENDA (ACTION)
A. CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION FOR THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT It is recommended that the City Council of the City of Cotati adopt a resolution calling for an Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire and permanent resolution to the conflict.
RESULT: Adopt [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Ben Ford, Vice Mayor
AYES: Harvey, Sparks, Ford, Lemus, Rivers
NAYS: None
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid. The Zoom meeting was restored shortly after this item began. Based on the advice of the City Attorney, the City Council agreed to move forward with considering adoption of this item.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Julie Chasen of Sonoma County
Charles Klipp of Sebastopol
Therese Mughannam-Walrath of Santa Rosa
Kamala Brown of Petaluma
Zoe Kessler
Rabbi Irwin Keller of Penngrove
Jordan B.
Sarah Soss of Sonoma County
Carol Williams of Cotati
June Merchers
Adrienne Lauby of Cotati
Shelley Berman of Cotati
Lena Rothman of Sebastopol
Marie Baraquette
After a lengthy discussion, Vice Mayor Ford presented a re-written Resolution, removing much of the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict prior to October 7, 2023, believing the Resolution to be stronger as a state of values rather than a foreign policy statement. Mayor Sparks re-opened discussion on the new Resolution.
Public Comment Part 2:
Elaine Leeder of Cotati
Jordan B.
Adrienne Lauby of Cotati
Unnamed Speaker
Councilmember Harvey motioned, with a second from Vice Mayor Ford, to approve the rewritten Resolution proposed by Vice Mayor Ford. Motion passed unanimously.
Cotati City Council Minutes January 09, 2024
Councilmember Rivers motioned, with a second from Councilmember Lemus, to add the word “genocide” to the second “Whereas” clause in the Resolution, as well as adding “ending Military aid to Israel.” Council voted on each addition separately.
Adding “Genocide” to the second Whereas clause: Motion passed unanimously.
Adding “ending Military Aid to Israel”: Motion failed 2-3. Lemus, Rivers vote yes, Harvey, Ford, Sparks vote no.
11. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
Report by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
12. CITY COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS
Councilmembers report out on local and regional meetings and events.
13. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-ACTION AGENDA ITEMS
Public comment:
Amber Meyers of Cotati
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
14. INFORMATION RECEIVED AFTER THE AGENDA WAS POSTED
A. INFORMATION RECEIVED AFTER THE AGENDA WAS POSTED (NON-ACTION)
15. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Sparks adjourned the meeting at 8:59pm.
/s/ Kevin Patterson, Deputy City Clerk