Cotati City Council
Agenda Staff Report
Item type: REGULAR AGENDA (ACTION)
To: City Council
Subject: RECOGNITION OF CARL SCHOLLMANN
Date: February 13, 2024
Written by: Damien O'Bid, City Manager
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution recognizing Carl Schollmanns extraordinary contributions to the City and community of Cotati.
Background
Carl Schollmann owned and operated Carl’s Body Shop in Cotati from 1965 until 2005 when his son Bruce and his wife Helen took over operations. Much of Carl’s life involved cars and motorcycles - he loved everything cars and he owned several hot rods. In the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, he raced motorcycles at the Cotati Drag Strip, at the Cotati Raceway and in Petaluma. In 1971-72, he raced motorcycles in Utah at the Bonneville Salt Flats setting land speed records.
Analysis/Discussion
Carl was always willing to assist the community, including tapping into his deep pool of friends and associates to help the City raise funds for events during the Great Recession. Among many other things, the following is a short list of ways that Carl has made Cotati a better place:
• For many years, Carl brought joy to the community at the Annual Tree Lighting Event by calling in a personal favor and having Santa Claus himself arrive by fire truck each year.
• Carl assisted each year at Kids Day by driving the Grand Marshall in the parade and assisting with other classic cars for dignitaries.
• Carl assisted the Cotati Historical Society each year with their annual chicken barbeque, which raised funds to support the preservation of Cotati’s history. • When the Cotati Police Department began hosting the annual National Night Out, Carl was there and found a large portable barbeque that the police staff used to grill free burgers and hot dogs for the community.
Carl loved Cotati and for all of the generous help that Carl gave to the City over the years, he was equally generous for many, many members of the community when they needed help. The community and his family unfortunately lost Carl in 2023 at the age of 85. Carl is remembered for how he lived his life - honest, trustworthy, helpful, generous, friendly, humble and community-minded.
Financial Considerations
Not applicable.
Environmental Issues
This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is not a project which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, pursuant to CEQA Guideline section 15378.