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, February 18, 2025
5:00 PM SPECIAL MEETING
1. CALL TO ORDER
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, 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. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
Public Comment:
George Barich of Cotati
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
6. REGULAR AGENDA (ACTION)
A. ACTION TO FILL CITY COUNCIL VACANCY BY APPOINTMENT
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid, including announcing that one of the applicants, Cotati City Council Minutes February 18, 2025
Cathleen Tandy, had notified the City that she was withdrawing her candidacy.
Councilmembers comment.
Mayor Ford invited each of the applicants for the vacant seat to the speaker’s lectern to address the Council regarding their interest in the position. Applicants were called in the following order, published in the agenda packet:
George Barich
John Savage
Ryan Long
Sarah Sparks
Steven Onines
Public Comment:
Adina Flores
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
Michael Ceremello
Kimberlyn Moffet of Cotati
Jenny Blaker of Cotati
After discussion, by a motion from Councilmember Sparks, with a second from Councilmember Harvey, the Council voted 4-0 to appoint John Savage to the vacant Council seat.
RESULT: Approve [4 TO 0] John Savage
MOVER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
SECONDER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks
NAYS: None
7. INFORMATION RECEIVED AFTER THE AGENDA WAS POSTED
8. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Ford adjourned the meeting at 5:55pm.
/s/ Kevin Patterson, Deputy City Clerk