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, March 11, 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 Absent
John Savage Councilmember Absent
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, Planning Technician Eli Arreola
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 – SPECIAL MEETING – FEB. 18, 2025 Cotati City Council Minutes March 11, 2025
B. COTATI CITY COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING – FEB 25, 2025 RESULT: Approved [3-0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Sylvia Lemus, Vice Mayor
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey
ABSENT: Sparks, Savage
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. Have you noticed a street light out, pothole, or issues in a City Park? We want to keep Cotati beautiful and running smoothly, so please let us know what needs to be fixed, by following one of the QR codes posted around the City, or just going to the City website under “How do I” and “Report a Service Request.”
E. 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. PROCLAMATIONS
A. PROCLAMATION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COTATI DECLARING MARCH 2025 AS AMERICAN RED CROSS MONTH
Councilmember Harvey read the proclamation. Proclamation was accepted by Andy Witthohn and Steve Countouritis of the American Red Cross.
B. A PROCLAMATION BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COTATI DECLARING MARCH 16-22 AS NATIONAL SURVEYOR'S WEEK IN THE CITY OF COTATI
Mayor Ford read the proclamation. Proclamation was accepted by Monica Wingett and Brett Clark of the Sonoma County Chapter of the California Land Surveyors Association.
Cotati City Council Minutes March 11, 2025
C. PROCLAMATION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COTATI DECLARING MARCH 2025 AS WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
Vice Mayor Sylvia Lemus read the proclamation. Proclamation was accepted by Melanie JonesCarter and Katarina Giudice of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women.
8. PRESENTATIONS
A. PETALUMA PEOPLES SERVICES CENTER (PPSC) SERVICES IN COTATI Presentation by Elece Hempel of the Petaluma People Services Center.
Councilmembers comment.
9. APPROVAL OF FINAL AGENDA (ACTION)
City Manager Damien O’Bid recommended moving Item 13C to the beginning of the Regular Agenda. By a motion from Councilmember Harvey, with a second from Vice Mayor Lemus, Council voted 3-0 to move the item.
No public comment.
10. 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 turn yellow when there are thirty seconds remaining, and red when time has expired.
No public comment.
11. CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
A. CONSIDERATION OF STANDARD SERVICE AGREEMENT FOR WELL 3 CAMERA
AND DEVELOPMENT AND PUMP INSTALLATION
RESULT: Approved [3-0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Sylvia Lemus, Vice Mayor
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey
ABSENT: Sparks, Savage
12. DIRECTION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
None.
13. C.
REGULAR AGENDA (ACTION)
REVIEW PROPOSED SONOMA WATER TRANSMISSION SYSTEM
BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 AND PROVIDE DIRECTION TO Cotati City Council Minutes March 11, 2025
CITY'S WATER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBER
Item was moved to the beginning of the Regular Calendar during Item 9, Approval of the Final Agenda.
Presentation by Jake Spaulding and Lynne Rosselli of Sonoma Water.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Neil Hancock of Cotati
By motion, Council provided direction to the City’s Water Advisory Committee to endorse the proposed Sonoma Water FY 25/26 Water Transmission Systems Budget.
RESULT: Approved [3-0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Sylvia Lemus, Vice Mayor
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey
ABSENT: Sparks, Savage
A. PRESENTATION OF THE GENERAL PLAN ANNUAL REPORT
Presentation by Planning Technician Eli Arreola.
Councilmembers comment.
No public comment.
B. PRESENTATION OF THE HOUSING ELEMENT ANNUAL REPORT
Presentation by Planning Technician Eli Arreola.
Councilmembers comment.
No public comment.
14. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
Report by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
15. CITY COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS
Councilmembers report out on local and regional events and meetings.
16. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-ACTION AGENDA ITEMS
No public comment.
17. INFORMATION RECEIVED AFTER THE AGENDA WAS POSTED
18. ADJOURNMENT
Cotati City Council Minutes March 11, 2025
Mayor Ford adjourned the meeting at 8:35pm.
/s/ Kevin Patterson, Deputy City Clerk