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, August 27, 2024
6:00 PM REGULAR MEETING
1. CALL TO ORDER
Councilmember Harvey called the meeting to order at 6:00pm.
2.. ROLL CALL
City Attorney John Bakker announced that Mayor Sparks would be participating in the meeting remotely, under Government Code Section 54953(f), due to a just cause.
Attendee Name Title Status
Laura Sparks Mayor Remote
Ben Ford Vice Mayor Absent
Susan Harvey Councilmember Present
Sylvia Lemus Councilmember Present
Kathleen Rivers Councilmember Present
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 Chris Simmons, Associate Planner Autumn Buss
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 – AUG 13, 2024 Cotati City Council Minutes August 27, 2024
RESULT: Approve [3 TO 0]
MOVER: Sylvia Lemus, Councilmember
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Mayor
AYES: Sparks, Harvey, Lemus
NAYS: None
ABSTAIN: Rivers
ABSENT: Ford
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, 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. APPROVAL OF FINAL AGENDA (ACTION)
City Manager Damien O’Bid recommended to move item 12A to directly after item 10.
No public comment.
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 Clerk will alert speakers when there are thirty seconds remaining.
No public comment.
9. CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
Cotati City Council Minutes August 27, 2024
A. SECOND READING AND ADOPTION 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
B. CONSIDERATION AND ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE 2024
AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY EVENTS FARMERS MARKETS - DOWNTOWN
SHOP AND STROLL HOLIDAY EVENT IN DOWNTOWN COTATI
C. CONSIDERATION AND ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION APPROVING THE 2024 CITY
OF COTATI HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY
CONSIDERATION AND ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION TO UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2024 MOVIE IN THE PARK EVENT IN LA PLAZA PARK
RESULT: Adopt [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Laura Sparks, Mayor
SECONDER: Sylvia Lemus, Councilmember
AYES: Sparks, Harvey, Lemus, Rivers
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Ford
10. DIRECTION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Rivers requested a future agenda item on displaying portraits of graduating seniors in town at the end of the school year.
12A. CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION OPPOSING SONOMA COUNTY INITATIVE
PETITION MEASURE J
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Jexi Mondragon of Petaluma
Cassie King of Petaluma
Lewis Bernier of Petaluma
Karin Lease of Sonoma County
Chase Koches of Santa Rosa
Samantha of Santa Rosa
Julia Fischer of Petaluma
Wendy Robinson of Sonoma
Carla Cabral of Occidental
Dayna Ghirardelli of Petaluma
Joseph Button of Penngrove
Joanie Benedetti Claussen of Cotati
Renata Brillinger of Sebastopol
Kimberlyn Moffet of Cotati
D.
Cotati City Council Minutes August 27, 2024
11. Kristina Garfinkel of Santa Rosa
Erik Allen of Santa Rosa
Sherstin Rosenberg
Doug Fuller
After a lengthy discussion, Councilmember Harvey motioned, with a second from Mayor Sparks, for the City Council to not pass the opposition resolution and to take no position on Measure J. Motion passed 3-1.
RESULT: Motion to Table Resolution [3 TO 1]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Kathleen Rivers, Councilmember
AYES: Sparks, Harvey, Rivers
NAYS: Lemus
ABSENT: Ford
PUBLIC HEARINGS (ACTION)
A. CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING ENTITLEMENTS TO ALLOW CONSTRUCTION OF A 126-UNIT MULTIFAMILY MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT ON A 5.62-ACRE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 7515 ALDER AVENUE AND 8145 GRAVENSTEIN HIGHWAY (SR-116), AND FINDING THE PROJECT CONSISTENT
WITH THE COTATI GENERAL PLAN AND ITS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
REPORT AND EXEMPT FROM FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
PURSUANT TO CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15183.
Presentation by Associate Planner Autumn Buss and project applicant Tom Monahan.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Adina Flores
Greg of Cotati
Samantha of Santa Rosa
Justin of Cotati
Hannon Garo
Ron Rankin
Chase
Paul of Cotati
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
Council approved the project, adding the following conditions to the Resolution:
-Provide traffic calming measures in multiple locations in the residential driveway to reduce speed of vehicles entering the Woonerf
-Requirement for a publically-visable sign, listing location contact information for any complaints regarding dust, noise, or other construction-related issues, at all times during site work and construction.
-Requirement of a parking management plan prior to occupancy. -Include Staff-proposed edits, as provided at the dais, public table in the Chamber, and posted to Cotati City Council Minutes August 27, 2024
the HTML agenda.
RESULT: Approve [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Sylvia Lemus, Councilmember
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Mayor
AYES: Sparks, Harvey, Lemus, Rivers
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Ford
B. COTATI DENSITY BONUS ORDINANCE UPDATE
Presentation by Director of Community Development Noah Housh.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Adina Flores
Calum Weeks of Generation Housing
The Council voted to introduce the ordinance, striking section E “Cotati Density Bonus.” Council asked for a future agenda item to address the issues in section E.
13. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
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
No public comment.
16. INFORMATION RECEIVED AFTER THE AGENDA WAS POSTED
A. INFORMATION RECEIVED AFTER THE AGENDA WAS POSTED
17. ADJOURNMENT
Councilmember Harvey adjourned the meeting at 10:52pm.
/s/ Kevin Patterson, Deputy City Clerk