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 28, 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
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 Chief Chris Simmons, 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)
A. COTATI CITY COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING – JAN 14, 2025 No public comment.
Cotati City Council Minutes January 28, 2025
RESULT: Approve [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks
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.
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 timer indicator lights will display yellow when there are thirty seconds remaining, and red when time has expired.
Public Comment:
Kay Rivers of Cotati
George Barich of Cotati
Michael Ceremello
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
Kyle Falbo
Jessica Needham of Cotati
Cotati City Council Minutes January 28, 2025
9. CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
A. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION APPOINTING THE ENGINEER OF WORK FOR
PREPARING THE COTATI LANDSCAPE AND LIGHTING ASSESSMENT DISTRICT FOR FY 25-26 and FY 26-27
RESULT: Approve [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks
NAYS: None
10. DIRECTION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Sparks requested a future agenda item to discuss sending a letter to the State Legislature regarding the budget cuts at Sonoma State University. Vice Mayor Lemus supported the request.
11. REGULAR AGENDA (ACTION)
A. APPROVAL OF 2025 COTATI CULTURAL GRANT AWARDEES
Before the item was heard, Vice Mayor Lemus announced that she was recusing herself due to a conflict of interest as a board member of the Progressive Tribal Alliance, one of the grant applicants.
Presentation by Recreation Manager Ashley Wilson.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
Neil Hancock of Cotati
Jack Pollard of Progressive Tribal Alliance
Angelica Smith of Cotati
RESULT: Approve [3 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Harvey, Sparks
NAYS: None
RECUSED: Lemus
B. MAYORS AND COUNCILMEMBERS COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS
Cotati City Council Minutes January 28, 2025
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers comment.
No public comment.
Council reviewed the letters of interest, and provided the following initial voting direction for Mayor Ford at the upcoming Sonoma County Mayors and Councilmembers Association and City Selection Committee meeting:
Sonoma County Agriculture Preservation and Open Space District Citizens Advisory Committee: Mayor’s discretion
Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) Commission: Janice Cader-Thompson (Petaluma) & Ariel Kelly (Healdsburg), Gerard Giudice (Rohnert Park) alternate choice (SCTA appointees); Sylvia Lemus (Cotati), Chris Herrod (Healdsburg) alternate choice (Non-SCTA appointee) Bay Area Air Quality Management District Board: Brian Barnacle (Petaluma) Golden Gate Bridge, Highway & Transportation District: Gerard Giudice (Rohnert Park) Sonoma County Consolidated Oversight Board: Stephen Zollman (Petaluma).
If the indicated candidate does not receive majority support from the other cities, the Council indicated that Mayor Ford can use his judgement when selecting alternate candidates.
C. ACTION TO FILL CITY COUNCIL VACANCY BY APPOINTMENT OR BY
ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION TO HOLD A SPECIAL ELECTION
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
George Barich of Cotati
Michael Ceremello
Council voted to fill the vacant Council seat by appointment. The application period will be open from January 30, 2025 through February 13, 2025, and the appointment will be made at a special meeting on February 18, 2025.
RESULT: Approve [4 TO 0] Appointment
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks
NAYS: None
D. PROCLAMATION SCHEDULE FOR 2025
Cotati City Council Minutes January 28, 2025
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers comment and make revisions to the schedule, including reassignment of proclamations led by former City Councilmember Rivers.
Public Comment:
George Barich of Cotati
RESULT: Approve [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Sylvia Lemus, Vice Mayor
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks
NAYS: None
12. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
Report by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
13. CITY COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS
Councilmembers report out on local and regional events and meetings.
14. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-ACTION AGENDA ITEMS
Public Comment:
George Barich of Cotati
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
15. INFORMATION RECEIVED AFTER THE AGENDA WAS POSTED
16. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Ford adjourned the meeting at 8:07pm.
/s/ Kevin Patterson, Deputy City Clerk