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 25, 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 Absent
Susan Harvey Councilmember Present
Laura Sparks Councilmember Present
John Savage 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
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. ADMINISTRATION OF OATH OF OFFICE FOR NEW COUNCILMEMBER The Deputy City Clerk administered the oath of office to Councilmember Savage.
Public Comment:
George Barich of Cotati
Cotati City Council Minutes February 25, 2025
6. 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 – FEB 11, 2025 No public comment.
RESULT: Adopt [3 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Harvey, Sparks
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Lemus
ABSTAIN: Savage
7. 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)
No changes.
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 Cotati City Council Minutes February 25, 2025
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:
George Barich of Cotati
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
Neil Hancock of Cotati
10. CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
A. ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION APPROVING BUDGET AMENDMENT AND
CONTRACT AMENDMENT FOR THE SIDEWALK GAP CLOSURE PROJECT RESULT: Adopt [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Lemus
11. DIRECTION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Sparks requested a future agenda item for the Cotati Library Commissioner to give a report on her first year in office.
12. REGULAR AGENDA (ACTION)
A. ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE DRAFT WATER AND SEWER
RATE STUDY AND DIRECTING STAFF TO PROCEED WITH THE PROPOSITION 218 PUBLIC NOTICING PROCESS FOR PROPOSED WATER AND SEWER RATE
ADJUSTMENTS AND TO SET A DATE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THE
ADOPTION OF RATES
Presentation by Director of Public Works/City Engineer Craig Scott, and Mark Hildebrand of Hildebrand Consulting.
Councilmembers comment, and requested information at next hearing about why Cotati rates were higher than some neighboring cities, comparing components of rates that drive cost, if possible.
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
Neil Hancock of Cotati
Mike Hilber
RESULT: Adopt [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
Cotati City Council Minutes February 25, 2025
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Lemus
B. COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS AS REPRESENTATIVES AND LIAISONS TO VARIOUS COMMITTEES FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2025
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers comment.
No public comment.
Councilmember Savage was selected to fill the 2nd seat on the CRPUSD 2x2x2x2 Committee, the primary seat of the Rohnert Park-Cotati Library Advisory Board, and the alternate seat as the liaison to the Cotati Chamber of Commerce. Councilmember Harvey was selected to fill the primary seat as liaison to the Sonoma Mountain Twilight Rotary Club.
RESULT: Adopt [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Lemus
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:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
16. INFORMATION RECEIVED AFTER THE AGENDA WAS POSTED
17. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Ford adjourned the meeting at 7:55pm.
/s/ Kevin Patterson, Deputy City Clerk