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, May 14, 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
Susan Harvey Mayor
Laura Sparks Vice Mayor
Ben Ford Councilmember
Sylvia Lemus Councilmember
Kay Rivers Councilmember
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 Michael Parish
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 23, 2024 RESULT: Approve [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Ben Ford, Councilmember
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Cotati City Council Minutes May 14, 2024
SECONDER: Susan Harvey, Mayor
AYES: Harvey, Ford, Lemus, Rivers, Sparks
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 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 enroll 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. PROCLAMATION FOR ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER HISTORY MONTH Councilmember Lemus read the proclamation.
B. NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK MAY 19-25, 2024
Mayor Sparks read the proclamation. Proclamation was accepted by Trevor and Collin of the Cotati Public Works Department.
8. PRESENTATIONS
A. PROJECT GRADUATION - COTATI-ROHNERT PARK SCHOOL DISTRICTIt is recommended that the City Council recieve a presentation from representatives from Project Graduation. No action will be taken.
Presentation by Cotati-Rohnert Park Project Graduation President Shannon Potter.
Councilmembers comment.
Cotati City Council Minutes May 14, 2024
No public comment.
9. APPROVAL OF FINAL AGENDA (ACTION)
This item will only be opened for the public comment if the City Council proposes to take any action to modify this agenda.
City Manager Damien O’Bid recommended that items 14A and 14B be switched in order on the Regular Agenda.
No public comment.
There being no objection from the Council, items 14A and 14B were flipped on the Regular Agenda.
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. 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 Clerk will alert speakers when there are thirty seconds remaining.
11. CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
A. APPROVAL OF 2024 COTATI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MUSIC FESTIVAL EVENT IN LA PLAZA PARK.It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution approving the 2024 Cotati Chamber of Commerce Music Festival event.
B. DESIGNATION OF SIGNATURES FOR ORDERS FOR PAYMENT OF MONIES AND WIRE TRANSFER SERVICESIt is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution designating signatures for orders for payment of monies drawn against the City of Cotati on existing accounts at Exchange Bank and designating signatures for wire transfer services with Exchange Bank.
C. PURCHASE OF NETWORK SWITCH AND RELATED EQUIPMENTIt is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the appropriation of funds and the purchase of a network switch and related equipment.
Councilmember Rivers requested to pull item 11C from the Consent Calendar.
Item 11C was added to the end of the Regular Agenda.
RESULT: Approve [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Ben Ford, Councilmember
SECONDER: Sylvia Lemus, Councilmember
AYES: Harvey, Ford, Lemus, Rivers, Sparks
NAYS: None
12. DIRECTION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Cotati City Council Minutes May 14, 2024
Mayor Sparks requested a future agenda item about baseball fields at Putnam Park & Civic Center.
13. PUBLIC HEARINGS (ACTION)
A. ADOPTION OF THE COTATI ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN AND AMENDMENTS
TO THE GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENT WITH THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLANStaff and the Planning Commission recommend that the City Council receive a presentation by city staff, receive public comments, and adopt a Resolution adopting the 2024 Cotati Active Transportation Plan and amendments to the General Plan consistent with the Active Transportation Plan.
Presentation by Senior Planner JP Harries.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Eris Weaver of Cotati
Neil Hancock of Cotati
Jenny Blaker of Cotati
Laurie-Ann Barbour of Cotati
Council adopted the 2024 Cotati Active Transportation plan, making the following ammendments:
• Incorporate the following recommendations from the Planning Commission, as amended by the City Council:
o Move Project #24 (W. Sierra Crossing at Hillview) from Tier 2 to Tier 1. • Move Project #27 (E. Cotati Crossing at Arthur/Charles) from Tier 3 to Tier 2. • Add a Class 1 pathway from the realigned Highway 116/West Cotati intersection to Helman Lane via the western corner of the Lowe’s property. • Policy 1-5 shall be amended as follows: “All public streets shall have a sidewalk safe pedestrian facilities connecting to the broader network, on a minimum of one side, phased as City funding and/or nexus with private development allows…” • Policy 1-6 shall be amended as follows: “…Class I multi-use path and Class IV separated bike lanes should shall be the first choice in the design of all new multi-modal infrastructure.”
• Policy 3-2.1 shall be amended as follows: “Create and implement a Woonerf Street Design Standard for implementation in appropriate areas of new residential and commercial development by January 2026.”
· Project #12 shall be amended as follows: “Install Class II bike lanes and improved tunnel lighting on W School Street and. Improve the asphalt trail adjacent to W School Street between Richardson Lane and Maple Avenue and connect to Thomas Page Academy. Provide more width for bicyclists.”
Cotati City Council Minutes May 14, 2024
· Project #15 shall be amended as follows: “Repave Repair and resurface and do maintenance (i.e. trimming) on Laguna Trail between East Cotati Ave and Commerce Boulevard. Consider alternatives to asphalt where feasible.”
· Policy 2-2 shall be amended as follows: “Maintain all bike lane symbols, striping, green paint, and buffer paint and ensure all bike lanes have standard bike symbols. Ensure bike lanes are kept The City shall work to educate and encourage people to keep bike lanes free of trash bins, vehicles, obstacles, and debris.”
· Policy 3-1, which directs staff to explore the feasibility of an electric shuttle service, shall also be listed as a citywide Tier 3 project (Project #76).
· Policy 3-10 shall be amended as follows: “Coordinate with the Recreation Department to identify opportunities for increased bike and pedestrian education with a focus on youth education. Identify opportunities to hold bike “fix-it clinics.” · Define “HAWK” in the Pedestrian Facilities Toolbox (ATP document P. 27).
14. REGULAR AGENDA (ACTION)
A. BROADBAND UPDATEIt is recommended that the City Council receive a status report on the initial research regarding broadband in Cotati and provide direction to staff as needed.
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers comment.
No public comment.
Council directed staff to report back in 120 days on any updates in efforts to reach out to cellular providors, informing them of recent changes to the City’s municipal code with regards to construction of wireless facilities.
B. NOISE ORDINANCE REVIEWIt is recommended that the City Council review and provide feedback to staff on potential changes to the City’s existing noise ordinance. No action will be taken.
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers comment.
No public comment.
Council indicated they were generally supportive of the proposed ordinance and directed City Manager O’Bid to bring back for introduction at a future meeting.
15. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
Report by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
16. CITY COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS
Cotati City Council Minutes May 14, 2024
Councilmembers report out on local and regional events and meetings.
17. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-ACTION AGENDA ITEMS
18. REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
19. INFORMATION RECEIVED AFTER THE AGENDA WAS POSTED
A. INFORMATION RECEIVED AFTER THE AGENDA WAS POSTED
20. ADJOURNMENT
Certification of Posting of the Notice: I declare under penalty of perjury that I am employed by the City of Cotati and that I posted this notice on the City’s website, bulletin boards of City Hall, Veterans’ Memorial Building and the SMART Train Depot, on or before May 9, 2024. /s/ Kevin Patterson, Deputy City Clerk
21 REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION