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, April 23, 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
Kathleen 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, Police Chief Chris Simmons
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 – APR 9, 2024
Cotati City Council Minutes April 23, 2024
RESULT: Approve as Amended [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Ben Ford, Vice Mayor
AYES: Sparks, Ford, Harvey, Lemus, Rivers
NAYS: None
Vice Mayor Ford asked that the first sentence in the minutes for item 12A be amended to provide clarity to the Council’s direction.
No public comment.
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. PRESENTATIONS
A. SONOMA COUNTY LIBRARY PRESENTATION
Presentation by Sonoma County Library Director Erika Thibault.
Councilmembers comment, and request Director Thibault continue to work with the City Manager on library/City collaboration opportunities.
No public comment.
8. APPROVAL OF FINAL AGENDA (ACTION)
No changes.
Cotati City Council Minutes April 23, 2024
9. 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. 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.
Public Comment:
Neil Hancock of Cotati
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
Michael Ceremello Jr.
Adina Flores
Diana Alexander of Cotati
10. CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
A. MEASURE S ANNUAL REPORT AND LETTER FROM OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022/23
B. APPROVAL OF AGREEMENTS TO COORDINATE AND FUND LEGAL RESEARCH
AND ANALYSIS REGARDING THE IMPACT OF POTTER VALLEY PROJECT
DIVERSIONS
RESULT: Adopt [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Ben Ford, Vice Mayor
AYES: Sparks, Ford, Harvey, Lemus, Rivers
NAYS: None
11. DIRECTION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
None.
12. REGULAR AGENDA (ACTION)
A. FISCAL YEAR 2023/24 - THIRD QUARTER - FINANCIAL UPDATE Presentation by Director of Administrative Services Angela Courter.
Councilmembers comment.
No public comment.
B. ANNUAL POLICE CHIEF REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY
Presentation by Police Chief Chris Simmons.
Councilmember comments:
-Can we recruit bilingual dispatchers
Cotati City Council Minutes April 23, 2024
-More women in policing
-Participate in BIPOC events, if available
-Can we use SAFE Team for more calls?
-Request feedback on ALPR utility in next annual report Public comment:
Neil Hancock of Cotati
13. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
Report by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
14. CITY COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS
Councilmembers report out on local and regional meetings and events.
15. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-ACTION AGENDA ITEMS
No public comment.
16. 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 adjourned the meeting to closed session at 9:25pm.
No public comment.
17. REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
Council returned from closed session at 9:41pm.
Mayor Sparks 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 Sparks adjourned the meeting at 9:42pm.
/s/ Kevin Patterson, Deputy City Clerk