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, July 09, 2024
6:00 PM REGULAR MEETING
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Sparks called the meeting to order at 6:05pm.
City Attorney John Bakker announced that Councilmember Lemus was participating in the meeting remotely under Government Code Section 54953(f), due to a just cause. Councilmember Harvey was also participating remotely, as noticed on the agenda.
2. ROLL CALL
Attendee Name Title Status
Laura Sparks Mayor Present
Ben Ford Vice Mayor Present
Susan Harvey Councilmember Remote
Sylvia Lemus Councilmember Remote
Kay 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 Lieutenant Paul Goodin, Senior Planner JP Harries, Associate Planner Autumn Buss, Recreation Manager Ashley Wilson
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)
Cotati City Council Minutes July 09, 2024
A. COTATI CITY COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING – JUN 25, 2024 Mayor Sparks requested two changes to the minutes for June 25, 2024: adding the closed session adjournment time to item 17, and editing item 13 to indicate that an agreement on field use hours at Cator field should be determined before construction is complete.
Public Comment:
Scott Goree
RESULT: Approved as Amended [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Ben Ford, Vice Mayor
SECONDER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
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 on 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, 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. APPROVAL OF FINAL AGENDA (ACTION)
No changes.
8. 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 Cotati City Council Minutes July 09, 2024
Clerk will alert speakers when there are thirty seconds remaining.
Public Comment:
Gary Koeffler of Cotati
Nancy Preblich of Sebastopol
9. CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
A. ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION CALLING A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION FOR NOVEMBER 5, 2024 AND REQUESTING CONSOLIDATION WITH
STATEWIDE ELECTION
B. DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEE STUDY UPDATE
C. ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 2.22 OF COTATI MUNICIPAL
CODE ESTABLISHING COMMUNITY-POLICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
D. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN ADDITIONAL DISCRETIONARY
PAYMENT TO CALPERS FOR THE PENSION UNFUNDED ACCRUED LIABILITY E. APPROVAL OF ANNUAL STORM WATER SUPPORT SERVICES AGREEMENT F. APPROVAL OF 2024 COTATI ACCORDION FESTIVAL AND ASSOCIATED STREET
CLOSURES
G. REVISED MOU FOR THE COTATI POLICE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (2024- 2029)
H. ADOPTION OF THE REVISED CITY-WIDE SALARY SCHEDULE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024/25
RESULT: Approve [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Ben Ford, Vice Mayor
AYES: Sparks, Ford, Harvey, Lemus, Rivers
NAYS: None
10. DIRECTION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Rivers requested a future agenda item on how the City’s procurement process works.
11. PUBLIC HEARINGS (ACTION)
A. INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE (1) AMENDING CHAPTER 17.28 (SPECIAL PURPOSE ZONE AND OVERLAY ZONE STANDARDS) OF TITLE 17 (LAND USE)
OF THE COTATI MUNICIPAL CODE TO ALLOW EXISTING PLANNED UNIT
DEVELOPMENTS (PUDS) TO BE SUBDIVIDED, DEVELOPED, REDEVELOPED, OR
MODIFIED CONSISTENT WITH THE UNDERLYING ZONING DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, AND (2) REZONING MULTIPLE PROPERTIES TO
BE CONSISTENT WITH THEIR GENERAL PLAN LAND USE DESIGNATIONS Cotati City Council Minutes July 09, 2024
Presentation by Senior Planner JP Harries.
Councilmembers comment:
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
Neil Hancock of Cotati
Unnamed Speaker
After discussion, Council directed staff to delay bringing the second reading and adoption of the ordinance for no less than two months, to give time for staff to reach out to the owners of the affected parcels.
RESULT: Introduced [3 TO 2]
MOVER: Ben Ford, Vice Mayor
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Mayor
AYES: Sparks, Ford, Lemus
NAYS: Harvey, Rivers
12A. APPROVAL OF A LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR AN INTERIM LIVESTOCK
OPERATOR AT THE VERONDA FALLETTI RANCH
This item was moved to directly after 11A. Before the item was heard, Councilmember Rivers left the meeting due to illness. Councilmember Lemus returned to the Chambers to keep a quorum present.
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Aishwarya of Sandy Loam
Tomi Henry of Penngrove
Council directed staff to evaluate possible options to keep the aquaponics operation at the farm in place during the six month interim period, until a new permanent licensee is selected to assume Farmster’s licensed area.
RESULT: Approve [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Ben Ford, Vice Mayor
SECONDER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
AYES: Sparks, Ford, Harvey, Lemus
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Rivers
12B. CITIZEN'S INITIATIVE MEASURE - ROUNDABOUT BAN REPEAL
This item was heard directly after items 11A and 12A.
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Cotati City Council Minutes July 09, 2024
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Neil Hancock of Cotati
Eris Weaver of Cotati
Ed Gilardi of Cotati
RESULT: Adopt [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Sylvia Lemus, Councilmember
AYES: Sparks, Ford, Harvey, Lemus
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Rivers
11B. INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COTATI AMENDING TITLE 17 (LAND USE) OF THE COTATI MUNICIPAL CODE
TO ESTABLISH OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS FOR MULTIFAMILY PLEX
HOUSING AND SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING AND TO MAKE UPDATES TO
FACILITATE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
Presentation by Associate Planner Autumn Buss.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Neil Hancock of Cotati
Council directed staff to amend the ordinance to:
-Require articulation of a depth of at least 36 inches in the building facade, at least every 50 feet for the plex development
-Make the architectural standards for plex housing apply for up to 4-unit structures within a larger development that would not otherwise be a plex development. -Allow duplex development to be approved at the Director level for design review -Remove each instance of “street and driveway width shall not exceed the minimum” -Add in that plex developments of more than 4 units will have a central trash enclosure, rather than individual bins for each unit.
RESULT: Introduced as Amended [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Ben Ford, Vice Mayor
SECONDER: Sylvia Lemus, Councilmember
AYES: Harvey, Ford, Lemus, Sparks
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Rivers
11C. RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE ENGINEER'S REPORT, CONFIRM THE
ASSESSMENT DIAGRAM AND ANNUAL ASSESSMENT AMOUNTS, AND LEVYING Cotati City Council Minutes July 09, 2024
AND COLLECTION OF THE ANNUAL ASSESSMENTS FOR THE COTATI
LANDSCAPING AND LIGHTING ASSESSMENT DISTRICT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024-25.
Presentation by Director of Public Works/City Engineer Craig Scott.
Councilmembers comment.
No public comment.
Council directed staff to include in the staff report for this item next year that the Quail Hollow assessment district will not have enough funds to pay back the loans made to upkeep the landscaping in their district, and indicate it as a General Fund transfer.
RESULT: Adopt [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Ben Ford, Vice Mayor
SECONDER: Sylvia Lemus, Councilmember
AYES: Sparks, Ford, Harvey, Lemus
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Rivers
12. REGULAR AGENDA (ACTION)
C. APPROVAL OF AGREEMENT FOR BUDGET WORKSHOP FACILITATION This item was moved to the next regular meeting on August 13, 2024.
D. DISCUSS COTATI CULTURAL EVENT GRANT PROGRAM
This item was moved to the next regular meeting on August 13, 2024.
E. DISCUSS AND POTENTIALLY TAKE A POSITION ON SENATE BILL (SB) 1298, CERTIFICATION OF THERMAL POWERPLANTS: DATA CENTERS
Presentation by City Manger Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers comment.
No public comment.
Council voted to send the opposition letter included in the agenda packet.
RESULT: Approve [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Sylvia Lemus, Councilmember
SECONDER: Ben Ford, Vice Mayor
AYES: Sparks, Ford, Ford, Lemus
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Rivers
13. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
Cotati City Council Minutes July 09, 2024
Report by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
14. CITY COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS
Councilmembers report out on local and regional events and meetings.
15. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-ACTION AGENDA ITEMS
16. CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Sparks announced that the Council would not be conducting item 16B.
No public comment.
Council adjourned to closed session at 10:12pm.
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
SURPERIOR COURT CASE NO. 24CV00804
B. CONFERENCE WITH CITY LABOR NEGOTIATORS (GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957.6) CITY DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE: CITY MANAGER OR DESIGNEE. EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION: UNREPRESENTED
17. REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
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 10:36pm.
/s/ Kevin Patterson, Deputy City Clerk