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, December 10, 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, 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, Senior Planner JP Harries, 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 – NOV 26, 2024 RESULT: Approve [4 TO 0]
Cotati City Council Minutes December 10, 2024
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Ben Ford, Vice Mayor
AYES: Sparks, Ford, Harvey, Lemus
NAYS: None
ABSTAIN: Rivers
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)
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 Clerk will alert speakers when there are thirty seconds remaining.
Public Comment:
Stuart Campbell
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
9. CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
10. DIRECTION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Vice Mayor Ford requested a future agenda item for a discussion on the City’s role in potential mass Cotati City Council Minutes December 10, 2024
deportations.
11. PUBLIC HEARINGS (ACTION)
A. INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH A
DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEE ON BEHALF OF THE RANCHO ADOBE FIRE
PROTECTION DISTRICT
RESULT: Introduced [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Ben Ford, Vice Mayor
AYES: Sparks, Ford, Harvey, Lemus, Rivers
NAYS: None
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
Neil Hancock of Cotati
Jenny Blaker of Cotati
B. INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTION
17.42.170 ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS/JUNIOR ACCESSORY DWELLING
UNITS OF THE COTATI MUNICIPAL CODE
Presentation by Associate Planner Autumn Buss.
Councilmembers comment.
No public comment.
Council introduced the Ordinance, making the following edits:
-Changing the section on parking to read that “one parking space per ADU is required, except where prohibited by State law
-Changing the second half of Section 6 “Single Family Dwelling” to read: “Single family dwellings may also contain accessory dwelling units or junior accessory dwelling units or be located on lots with detached accessory dwelling units. ADUs and JADUS are not included in the unit count, density calculations, or site coverage calculations for purposes of determining consistency with this title and do not cause the single family dwelling or the lot or the lot on which it is located to be considered a multifamily dwelling or a multifamily lot or property.” -Removed parenthetical statement “or interior” from Section B(5)(D) -Using detached height limit of 18 feet citywide
RESULT: Introduced [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Ben Ford, Vice Mayor
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Mayor
Cotati City Council Minutes December 10, 2024
AYES: Sparks, Ford, Harvey, Lemus, Rivers
NAYS: None
12. REGULAR AGENDA (ACTION)
A. AUTHORIZATION OF A DISCRETIONARY PAYMENT TO CALPERS AND STATUS
OF CITY PENSION PLANS
Presentation by Director of Administrative Services Angela Courter, and Dmitry Semenov of Ridgeline Municipal Strategies.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
Adrienne Lauby of Cotati
Neil Hancock of Cotati
RESULT: Approve [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Sylvia Lemus, Councilmember
AYES: Harvey, Ford, Lemus, Rivers, Sparks
NAYS: None
B. REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF DESIGN OPTIONS FOR A PROPOSED AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT ON CITY-OWNED PROPERTY AT 120 E
COTATI AVENUE
Vice Mayor Ford recused himself from this item, due to his residence being near the project site.
Presentation by Senior Planner JP Harries and Robin Zimbler of Freebird Development Company LLC.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Unnamed Speaker
Neil Hancock of Cotati
Jenny Blaker of Cotati
Adrienne Lauby of Cotati
Chris Palomo
Laurie-Ann Barbour of Cotati
Council provided feedback to staff on potential designs, generally favoring the mission-style presented by the developer. Council also expressed concerns about traffic issues, particularly on East Cotati Ave, and asked for a traffic study. Staff confirmed a traffic study would be conducted. Council approved the step-down to 44 units, from 48. Council also expressed support for a prevailing wage and/or union project, but noted that getting the project built was their top Cotati City Council Minutes December 10, 2024
priority.
C. 2025 VERONDA-FALLETTI RANCH WORKPLANS AND LICENSE AGREEMENT
WITH PHOENIX FARM CONCEPTS
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid, Aishwarya Kancharla of Sandy Loam, and Tomi Henry of Phoenix Farm concepts.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
Debra Bell of Cotati
Jenny Blaker of Cotati
Neil Hancock of Cotati
Council approved the presented workplan, striking the relocation of the two cows to keep them on-site.
RESULT: Approve [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Sylvia Lemus, Councilmember
AYES: Sparks, Ford, Harvey, Lemus, Rivers
NAYS: None
D. RECEIVE AND FILE STATEMENT OF THE VOTES CAST AND DECLARATION OF
THE RESULTS OF THE CITY OF COTATI CONSOLIDATED GENERAL
MUNICIPAL ELECTION HELD ON NOVEMBER 5, 2024
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
Jenny Blaker of Cotati
Adrienne Lauby of Cotati
Neil Hancock of Cotati
RESULT: Adopt [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Sylvia Lemus, Councilmember
SECONDER: Kathleen Rivers, Councilmember
AYES: Sparks, Ford, Harvey, Lemus, Rivers
NAYS: None
E. ADMINISTRATION OF OATH OF OFFICE TO NEWLY ELECTED
COUNCILMEMBERS
Cotati City Council Minutes December 10, 2024
Deputy City Clerk Kevin Patterson administered the oath to the newly elected Councilmembers.
Public Comment:
Shelley Berman of Cotati
After this item, Mayor Sparks called for a motion to extend the meeting beyond 11:00pm.
Motion by Councilmember Harvey, second by Vice Mayor Ford, motion passed 4-1 (Rivers votes no).
F. REORGANIZATION OF CITY COUNCIL FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2025 Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers comment.
No public comment.
Mayor Sparks motioned to elect Vice Mayor Ford to serve as Mayor for 2025.
RESULT: Approve [5 TO 0] Ben Ford, Mayor, 2025
MOVER: Laura Sparks, Mayor
SECONDER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
AYES: Sparks, Ford, Harvey, Lemus, Rivers
NAYS: None
Councilmember Rivers motioned to elect Councilmember Lemus to serve as Vice Mayor for 2025.
RESULT: Approve [5 TO 0] Sylvia Lemus, Vice Mayor, 2025 MOVER: Kathleen Rivers, Councilmember
SECONDER: Ben Ford, Vice Mayor
AYES: Sparks, Ford, Harvey, Lemus, Rivers
NAYS: None
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
17. ADJOURNMENT
Cotati City Council Minutes December 10, 2024
Mayor Sparks adjourned the meeting at 11:13pm.
/s/ Kevin Patterson, Deputy City Clerk