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, March 12, 2024
6:00 PM REGULAR MEETING
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Sparks called the meeting to order at 6:00pm.
2. ROLL CALL
Attendee Name Title Status
Laura Sparks Mayor Present
Ben Ford Vice Mayor Present
Susan Harvey Councilmember Present
Sylvia Lemus Councilmember Present
Kay Rivers Councilmember Present
Staff Present: City Manger 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, Police Chief Chris Simmons
3. 4.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
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 – FEB 13, 2024 B. COTATI CITY COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING – FEB 27, 2024 RESULT: Approve [4 TO 0]
Cotati City Council Minutes March 12, 2024
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Ben Ford, Vice Mayor
AYES: Sparks, Ford, Harvey, Lemus
NAYS: None
ABSTAIN: Rivers
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 may consider the item. If the City Council considers the item, citizens will be 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. However, the Brown Act prohibits the City Council from taking action or considering any item that is not this agenda, to ensure that other members of the community who wish to provide comment are notified in advance through a properly noticed meeting agenda.
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.
7. PROCLAMATIONS
A. WOMANS HISTORY MONTH PROCLAMATION
Mayor Sparks read the proclamation.
Joanne Brown and Anna Diaz of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women accepted the proclamation.
B. PROCLAMATION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COTATI FOR AMERICAN RED CROSS MONTH 2024
Mayor Sparks read the proclamation.
Miriam Tcheng and Leland Montell of the American Red Cross accepted the proclamation.
C. PROCLAMING NATIONAL SURVEYORS WEEK
Mayor Sparks read the proclamation.
Cotati City Council Minutes March 12, 2024
Monica Wingett of Santa Rosa and Carrie of the Sonoma County Surveyor’s Office accepted the proclamation.
8. PRESENTATIONS
A. SWEARING IN CEREMONY FOR NEW POLICE OFFICERS
Presentation by Chief of Police Chris Simmons.
Officers Thomas Schneider and Flor Silva were sworn in by Chief Simmons.
Councilmembers comment.
No public comment.
9. APPROVAL OF FINAL AGENDA (ACTION)
No changes.
10. 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 Deputy City Clerk will alert speakers when there are thirty seconds remaining.
11. CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
A. TELECOMMUNICATION ORDINANCE UPDATE – SECOND READING
RESULT: Adopt [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Ben Ford, Vice Mayor
SECONDER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
AYES: Sparks, Ford, Harvey, Lemus, Rivers
NAYS: None
12. DIRECTION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
None.
13. REGULAR AGENDA (ACTION)
A. PRESENTATION OF THE DRAFT COTATI ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN Presentation by Director of Community Development Noah Housh, Eleanor Leshner of Leshner Planning & Transportation, and Dana Turrey of Sonoma County Transportation Authority.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Cotati City Council Minutes March 12, 2024
Eris Weaver of Sonoma County Bike Coalition
Jenny Blaker of Cotati
Neil Hancock of Cotati
Council received the presentation and provided feedback and direction to Staff and Consultants regarding the draft plan.
B. REVIEW PROPOSED SONOMA WATER TRANSMISSION SYSTEM BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025
Presentation by Director of Public Works/City Engineer Craig Scott, and Jake Spaulding and Lynne Rosselli of Sonoma Water.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Neil Hancock of Cotati
Council provided direction to the Water Advisory Committee member to vote yes on the proposed Sonoma County Water Agency FY 24-25 Water Transmission System budget.
C. PRESENTATION ON THE PENSION UNFUNDED ACCRUED LIABILITY AND
RELATED POLICY STATUS AND RECOMMENDATION ON ADOPTING A
RESOLUTION TO APPROVE AN ADDITIONAL DISCRETIONARY PAYMENT Presentation by Director of Administrative Services Angela Courter and Dmitry Semenov of Ridgeline Municipal Strategies.
Councilmembers comment.
RESULT: Adopt [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Ben Ford, Vice Mayor
SECONDER: Kay Rivers, Councilmember
AYES: Sparks, Ford, Harvey, Lemus, Rivers
NAYS: None
D. APPROVAL OF A DESIGN AGREEMENT TO UPDATE THE CITY COUNCIL
CHAMBERS AUDIO VISUAL SYSTEMS
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers comment.
No public comment.
RESULT: Approve [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
Cotati City Council Minutes March 12, 2024
SECONDER: Sylvia Lemus, Councilmember
AYES: Sparks, Ford, Harvey, Lemus, Rivers
NAYS: None
E. UTILITY BOX PAINTING PROJECT
Presentation by Director of Public Works/City Engineer Craig Scott.
Councilmembers comment.
No public comment.
Council approved the pilot program with a stipend of $200 for the artist, including the cost of materials.
RESULT: Approve [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Kay Rivers, Councilmember
SECONDER: Sylvia Lemus, Councilmember
AYES: Sparks, Ford, Harvey, Lemus, Rivers
NAYS: None
14. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
Report by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
15. CITY COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS
Councilmembers report out on local and regional events and meetings.
16. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-ACTION AGENDA ITEMS
No public comment.
17. CLOSED SESSION
A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—EXISTING LITIGATION
(PARAGRAPH (1) OF SUBDIVISION (D) OF SECTION 54956.9) NAME OF CASE:
COUNTRYSIDE MHP LLC V. CITY OF COTATI, SONOMA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT CASE NO. 24CV00804
Mayor Sparks announced the closed session topic.
No public comment.
Council adjourned to closed session at 9:53pm.
18. REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
Council returned from closed session at 10:28pm.
Mayor Sparks announced that there was nothing to report out of closed session.
Cotati City Council Minutes March 12, 2024
19. INFORMATION RECEIVED AFTER THE AGENDA WAS POSTED
A. INFORMATION RECEIVED AFTER THE AGENDA WAS POSTED
20. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Sparks adjourned the meeting at 10:29pm.
/s/ Kevin Patterson, Deputy City Clerk