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 28, 2024
6:00 PM REGULAR MEETING
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Sparks called the meeting to order at 6:15pm.
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 Manger Damien O’Bid, Assistant City Attorney Ali Wolf, 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 – MAY 14, 2024 Mayor Sparks requested a change to the minutes under future agenda items, to indicate that her Cotati City Council Minutes May 28, 2024
request for a discussion on the license agreement for the baseball field at Putnam Park also included Civic Center Park.
RESULT: Approve as Amended [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Ben Ford, Vice Mayor
AYES: Sparks, Ford, Harvey, Lemus, Rivers
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. PROCLAIMING THE MONTH OF JUNE 2024 AS PRIDE MONTH
Councilmember Rivers read the proclamation. Proclamation was accepted by Jess Carroll of Positive Images.
No public comment.
8. APPROVAL OF FINAL AGENDA (ACTION)
City Manager Damien O’Bid indicated that the closed session would be cancelled.
No public comment.
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 Cotati City Council Minutes May 28, 2024
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.
Public Comment:
Adrienne Lauby of Cotati
10. CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
A. CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE A CONTRACT WITH
CLOUDPERMIT TO PURCHASE AND IMPLEMENT AN ELECTRONIC PERMIT
MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE SYSTEM
B. ACCEPTANCE OF THE CYPRESS AVENUE SEWER REPAIR PROJECT
IMPROVEMENTS
C. RESOLUTION OF INTENT TO APPROVE THE PRELIMINARY ENGINEER'S
REPORT FOR THE LANDSCAPE AND LIGHTING ASSESSMENT DISTRICT, LEVY
AND COLLECT ANNUAL ASSESSMENTS, AND SET THE TIME AND DATE OF THE
PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE COTATI LANDSCAPING AND LIGHTING
ASSESSMENT DISTRICT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024/25
Councilmember Harvey recused herself from the vote on item 10B, as she lives near the project.
RESULT: Adopt [5 TO 0] ITEMS 10A and 10C
MOVER: Ben Ford, Vice Mayor
SECONDER: Sylvia Lemus, Councilmember
AYES: Sparks, Ford, Harvey, Lemus, Rivers
NAYS: None
RESULT: Adopt [4 TO 0] ITEM 10B
MOVER: Ben Ford, Vice Mayor
SECONDER: Sylvia Lemus, Councilmember
AYES: Sparks, Ford, Lemus, Rivers
NAYS: None
RECUSED: Harvey
11. DIRECTION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
None.
12. PUBLIC HEARINGS (ACTION)
A. CITY FEE SCHEDULE UPDATE
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Cotati City Council Minutes May 28, 2024
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Shelley Berman of Cotati
Council requested the following modifications to the fee schedule:
- Correct typo in fee for Inspection of Modification of Service - Clarify that the fee for Affordable Housing Monitoring is per unit - Clarify that the Standard Tree Removal Application Fee for first 5 trees removed is per tree - Change the penalty for Tree Removal without a Permit to 5x the Tree Replacement In-Lieu fee, plus 2x the Removal Application Fee.
- Amend the heading for Non-Contract Classes, or Programs held in City Parks, Fields, or Courts, to indicate that this fee is not for general park use RESULT: Approve [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Ben Ford, Vice Mayor
SECONDER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
AYES: Sparks, Ford, Harvey, Lemus, Rivers
NAYS: None
13. REGULAR AGENDA (ACTION)
A. POLICE ADVISORY AND OVERSIGHT OPTIONS
Presentation by Chief of Police Chris Simmons.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Adrienne Lauby of Cotati
Shelley Berman of Cotati
Marjorie Crump-Shears of Cotati
David of Cotati
Council supported the staff recommendations, with the following modifications:
- Members would be chosen by a committee consisting of the City Manager and two Councilmembers
- Three-year term for commissioners
- Staggering the term expiration dates during formation of the committee, to prevent the entire commission from turning over at year 3.
14. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
Report by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
15. CITY COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS
Cotati City Council Minutes May 28, 2024
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 CITY LABOR NEGOTIATORS (GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957.6) CITY DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE: CITY MANAGER OR DESIGNEE. EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION: COTATI POLICE OFFICERS
ASSOCIATION (CPOA) AND COTATI POLICE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (CPMA)
This item was cancelled during Approval of the Final Agenda
17. 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 8:51pm.
/s/ Kevin Patterson, Deputy City Clerk