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 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 Present
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
After the Pledge of Allegiance, Mayor Ford announced that the Council would take a 5 minute recess.
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND NOTICE OF WAIVING OF READING OF ALL
RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES INTRODUCED AND/OR ADOPTED UNDER THIS
AGENDA (ACTION)
Cotati City Council Minutes March 25, 2025
A. COTATI CITY COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING – MAR 11, 2025
Public Comment:
George Barich of Cotati
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
RESULT: Approve [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Sylvia Lemus, Vice Mayor
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, 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 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. PRESENTATIONS
A. CRPUSD PRESENTATION
Presentation by Maite Iturri of the Cotati Rohnert Park Unified School District.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Cotati City Council Minutes March 25, 2025
Michael Ceremello of Dixon
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 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
Michael Ceremello of Dixon
10. CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
A. ANNUAL CANCELLATION OF CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND HOLIDAY
CLOSURE OF CITY HALL
RESULT: Adopt [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
11. DIRECTION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Harvey requested a future agenda item for a presentation from Zero Waste Sonoma.
12. REGULAR AGENDA (ACTION)
A. APPOINTMENT OF PLANNING COMMISSIONERS
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
By a unanimous vote, Council approved Councilmember Savage’s re-appointment of Commissioner Shelley Berman, and Councilmember Sparks’ appointment of Sarah Sparks (no relation).
Cotati City Council Minutes March 25, 2025
RESULT: Adopt [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Sylvia Lemus, Vice Mayor
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
B. ANNUAL POLICE CHIEF REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY
Presentation by Chief of Police Chris Simmons.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
Council received and discussed the annual report. Councilmember Sparks requested that an item regarding ALPR cameras be brought back to the Council at a later date.
C. MAYORS AND COUNCILMEMBERS COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers comment.
No public comment.
Council provided direction to the Mayor to support the following candidates at the upcoming Sonoma County Mayors and Councilmembers Association Board meeting on April 10. Council gave direction to the Mayor that he may support alternate candidates if the selected candidates are unsuccessful in their appointment.
Measure H Oversight Committee: Neysa Hinton (Sebastopol) and Evelyn Mitchell (Healdsburg) or Sandra Lowe (Sonoma), if Neysa or Evelyn are not selected.
North Bay Division League of CA Cities, Executive Board: Susan Harvey (Cotati)(primary) and Stephen Zollman (Sebastopol)(alternate)
Sonoma County Agriculture Preservation and Open Space District Citizens Advisory Committee: Marjorie Morgenstern (Cloverdale) and John Shribbs (Petaluma) After this item, Mayor Ford announced that the Council would take a 5 minute recess before the next item.
D. UPDATED COTATI CONNECTION AND NEW COMMUNITY MEMBER GUIDE Presentation by Director of Administrative Services Angela Courter.
Councilmembers comment.
No public comment.
Cotati City Council Minutes March 25, 2025
Council provided feedback on the new format newsletter and new community member guide, suggesting changes to incorporate:
-Add Proclamation/Flag Ceremonies to Community Events Calendar in newsletter -Investigate opportunities to post newsletter in public places -Investigate options to post newsletter to social media platforms -Add Sonoma Clean Power contact information to New Community Member Guide -Add QR code to go to Public Meetings Portal to New Community Member Guide -Clarify volunteer opportunities at VF Ranch in New Community Member Guide -Additions to map in Community Guide: public parking areas in downtown, e-bike stations -Add short-term to-do list in addition to first year to-do list -Move SAFE Team information to services directory and update phone number -Consider adding school district information
-Add Zero Waste Sonoma information
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:
Charles O’Neil of Cotati
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
16. CLOSED SESSION
A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNCIL – EXISTING LITIGATION (PARAGRAPH (1) OF SUBDIVISION (D) OF SECTION 54956.9) NAME OF CASE: COUNTRYSIDE MHP LLC V. CITY OF COTATI, SONOMA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT CASE NO. 24CV00804
Mayor Ford announced the closed session topic.
No public comment.
Council adjourned to closed session at 8:56pm.
17. REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
Council returned from closed session at 9:34pm.
Mayor Ford announced that there was nothing to report out of closed session.
18. INFORMATION RECEIVED AFTER THE AGENDA WAS POSTED
19. ADJOURNMENT
Cotati City Council Minutes March 25, 2025
Mayor Ford adjourned the meeting at 9:35pm.
/s/ Kevin Patterson, Deputy City Clerk