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, June 25, 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 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 – JUNE 11, 2024 Cotati City Council Minutes June 25, 2024
RESULT: APPROVE [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. PRESENTATIONS
A. PRESENTATION FROM ROHNERT PARK ANIMAL SERVICES
Presentation by Mickey Zeldes, Supervisor of Rohnert Park Animal Services.
Councilmembers comment.
No public comment.
8. APPROVAL OF FINAL AGENDA (ACTION)
City Manager Damien O’Bid recommended to move item 13A to immediately after item 10, Consent Calendar. City Council concurred.
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 June 25, 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.
10. CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
Mayor Sparks announced that there would be a separate vote for item 10E. Motion to approve consent calendar only included items 10A-10D.
A. FISCAL YEAR 24/25 SB 1 LIST OF PROJECTS AS REQUIRED BY THE ROAD REPAIR AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2017
B. RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS (GANN) LIMIT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024/25
C. ADOPTION OF THE REVISED CITY-WIDE SALARY SCHEDULE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024/25
D. FINANCIAL POLICIES UPDATE
RESULT: ADOPT [5-0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Ben Ford, Vice Mayor
AYES: Sparks, Ford, Harvey, Lemus, Rivers
NAYS: None
E. ADOPTION OF NOISE ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS TO RESTRICT THE USE OF
GAS-POWERED LEAF BLOWERS DURING CERTAIN HOURS
RESULT: ADOPT [3 TO 2]
MOVER: Ben Ford, Vice Mayor
SECONDER: Sylvia Lemus, Councilmember
AYES: Sparks, Ford, Lemus
NAYS: Harvey, Rivers
13A. CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN EXCLUSIVE NEGOTIATING
AGREEMENT WITH FREEBIRD DEVELOPMENT LLC FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF CITY OWNED PROPERTY AT 120 E COTATI
AVENUE WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Vice Mayor Ben Ford recused himself from this item, as he lives near the project site in question.
Presentation by Director of Community Development Noah Housh and Robin Zimler of Freebird Development.
Councilmembers comment.
Cotati City Council Minutes June 25, 2024
11. Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
Neil Hancock of Cotati
Albert Lopez of Cotati
Adrienne Lauby of Cotati
Heidi Chesney of Cotati
Shelley Berman of Cotati
RESULT: APPROVE [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Kathleen Rivers, Councilmember
AYES: Sparks, Harvey, Lemus, Rivers
NAYS:
RECUSED:
None
Ford
DIRECTION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Lemus requested a future agenda item on a letter of opposition to SB 1298, indicating that the July 9 City Council meeting would be timely.
12. PUBLIC HEARINGS (ACTION)
A. ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 2.22 OF COTATI MUNICIPAL
CODE ESTABLISHING COMMUNITY-POLICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Presentation by Chief of Police Chris Simmons.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Adrienne Lauby of Cotati
Shelley Berman of Cotati
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
Marjorie Crump-Shears of Cotati
The Council made the following modifications to the ordinance:
-Section 2.22.020: Add a period after “community based safety programs,” delete “as defined by the City Council, City Manager, and Chief of Police.
-Section 2.22.60: Add “By a majority vote, the Committee may recommend to the City Council the removal of a committee member.”
-Section 2.22.070: Add “D. By a majority vote, the Committee may make written recommendations to the Chief of Police.”
-Section 2.22.070: Change reports to the Council to twice per year instead of annually. -Section 2.22.080: Add “C. The Police Chief shall provide a written response to recommendations made by the Committee within 6 months.”
-Section 2.22.090(B): Remove “investigation conducted by the Cotati Police Department” -Section 2.22.090(D): Remove section in its entirety.
Cotati City Council Minutes June 25, 2024
RESULT: APPROVE [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Kathleen Rivers, Councilmember
SECONDER: Ben Ford, Vice Mayor
AYES: Sparks, Ford, Harvey, Lemus, Rivers
NAYS: None
13. REGULAR AGENDA (ACTION)
B. ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FISCAL YEAR 2024/25 BUDGET Presentation by Director of Administrative Services Angela Courter and City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Shelley Berman of Cotati
RESULT: ADOPT [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Sylvia Lemus, Councilmember
AYES: Sparks, Ford, Harvey, Lemus, Rivers
NAYS: None
C. DISCUSS NORCAL OAKS LICENSE AGREEMENT
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Shelley Berman of Cotati
Adrienne Lauby of Cotati
Peggy Carr
Council provided direction to staff to implement the proposed public hours at Putnam Park, and to work with NorCal Oaks on a similar program before Cator Field construction is complete. Council also directed staff to research options for watering the eastern portion of the grass field at Putnam Park, outside the boundaries of the baseball field.
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.
Cotati City Council Minutes June 25, 2024
16. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-ACTION AGENDA ITEMS
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 MANAGEMENT
ASSOCIATION (CPMA)
Mayor Sparks announced the closed session topic.
No public comment.
Council adjourned to closed session at 10:32pm.
18. 19.
REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Sparks announced that there was nothing to report out of closed session.
INFORMATION RECEIVED AFTER THE AGENDA WAS POSTED
A. INFORMATION RECEIVED AFTER THE AGENDA WAS POSTED
20. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Sparks adjourned the meeting at 11:07pm.
/s/ Kevin Patterson, Deputy City Clerk