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, January 14, 2025
6:00 PM REGULAR MEETING
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Ford called the meeting to order at 6:00pm.
2. ROLL CALL
Attendee Name Title Status
Ben Ford Mayor Present
Sylvia Lemus Vice Mayor Present
Susan Harvey Councilmember Present
Laura Sparks Councilmember Present
Kathleen Rivers Councilmember Present
Staff Present: City Manager 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, 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 – DEC 10, 2024 Cotati City Council Minutes January 14, 2025
No public comment.
RESULT: Approve [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Sylvia Lemus, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, 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.gov.
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.gov, 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.
8. APPROVAL OF FINAL AGENDA (ACTION)
Mayor Ford proposed to move Citizen’s Business/Public Comment for Consent Calendar Items to immediately follow announcements, before presentations. There being no objection from the Council, the item was moved.
Public Comment:
George Barich of Cotati
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 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:
Cotati City Council Minutes January 14, 2025
Jason Tarmino of PG&E
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
Charlie Reinheart
George Barich of Cotati
10. CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
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 IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW BY REPEALING AND REPLACING SECTION 17.42.170 ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS/JUNIOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND AMENDING SECTION 17.90.020
DEFINITIONS OF SPECIALIZED TERMS AND PHRASES
B. CONSIDERATION AND ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING 2025 ROLLIN' ROSIES CAR SHOW IN LA PLAZA PARK ON MAY 10, 2025 C. CONSIDERATION AND ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION APPROVING THE 2025 CITY
OF COTATI CLIMATE READY COTATI FAIR
D. APPROVAL OF AGREEMENT FOR REMOVAL OF EUCALYPTUS TREES ON W
SIERRA AVENUE
E. SECOND READING AND ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH A
DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEE ON BEHALF OF THE RANCHO ADOBE FIRE
PROTECTION DISTRICT
RESULT: Adopt [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Mayor
AYES: Harvey, Ford, Lemus, Rivers, Sparks
NAYS: None
7. PRESENTATIONS
A. SONOMA WATER TRANSMISSION SYSTEM PROJECTS
Presentation by Kent Gylfe, Director of Engineering for Sonoma Water.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Neil Hancock of Cotati
B. 2024 RECAP - MARIN/SONOMA MOSQUITO & VECTOR CONTROL DISTRICT Presentation by Peter Bonkrude, District Manager for the Marin/Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control District.
Councilmembers comment.
Cotati City Council Minutes January 14, 2025
No public comment.
11. DIRECTION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
None.
12. REGULAR AGENDA (ACTION)
A. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
FOR STRATEGIC COORDINATION WITH SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY AND
THE CITY OF ROHNERT PARK
Before the presentation for this item began, Mayor Ford announced that he was recusing himself due to a conflict of interest, as an employee of SSU. Vice Mayor Lemus chaired the item.
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
George Barich of Cotati
This item was re-opened for a second public comment period.
Public Comment:
Jeff Keating of SSU
RESULT: Approve [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Kay Rivers, Councilmember
AYES: Harvey, Lemus, Rivers, Sparks
NAYS: None
B. UPDATE ON LAWS AND POLICIES THAT REGULATE SMALL-SCALE FOOD AND
RETAIL BUSINESSES IN COTATI
Presentation by Associate Planner Autumn Buss.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
George Barich of Cotati
Neil Hancock of Cotati
Council expressed interest in implementing the potential future actions, including standards for sidewalk vendors, classifying cottage food as a home occupation business, and setting standards for food truck operations, to be considered with Strategic Planning.
Cotati City Council Minutes January 14, 2025
C. DISCUSSION AND BACKGROUND ON THE RANCHO CORDOVA COMMUNITY
COUNCIL
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
George Barich of Cotati
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
Council gave feedback to staff that they did not wish to discuss the Community Council concept at Strategic Planning, but incorporate the individual goals and programs that City Council has prioritized in the annual work plan through the Strategic Planning process.
D. COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS AS REPRESENTATIVES AND LIAISONS TO VARIOUS COMMITTEES FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2025
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
George Barich of Cotati
Councilmembers directed updates to assignments as follows:
-Edit 2x2x2x2 committee to show Councilmember Rivers and Councilmember Sparks as members (the committee does not have alternates).
-Add Councilmember Sparks as an alternate to the Sonoma Mountain Twilight Rotary Club. -No further changes.
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
Public Comment:
George Barich of Cotati
16. INFORMATION RECEIVED AFTER THE AGENDA WAS POSTED
17. ADJOURNMENT
Council returned from closed session at 10:47pm. Mayor Ford announced that there was nothing to report out of closed session.
Cotati City Council Minutes January 14, 2025
Mayor Ford adjourned the meeting at 10:47pm.
/s/ Kevin Patterson, Deputy City Clerk