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 21, 2025
4:00 PM SPECIAL MEETING
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Ford called the meeting to order at 4:00pm. Prior to Roll Call, Mayor Ford read a letter received by the Council earlier in the day from Councilmember Kathleen Rivers, who announced her resignation from the City Council effective immediately.
2. ROLL CALL
Attendee Name Title Status
Ben Ford Mayor Present
Sylvia Lemus Vice Mayor Present
Susan Harvey Councilmember Present
Laura Sparks Councilmember Present
Staff Present: City Manager Damien O’Bid, 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 acknowledgment 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. 5.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
PUBLIC COMMENT
Public Comment:
Pam Granger of Tobacco-Free Sonoma County
Jenny Blaker of Cotati
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
Erin Armstrong of Cotati Chamber of Commerce
Cotati City Council Minutes January 21, 2025
6. REGULAR AGENDA (ACTION)
A. STRATEGIC PLANNING MEETING #1
Michelle New and Al Zelinka of Baker Tilly led the Council in a Strategic Planning workshop.
Please see the attached report for additional details.
7. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Ford adjourned the meeting at 7:21pm.
/s/ Kevin Patterson, Deputy City Clerk