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, April 08, 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.
Due to repeated meeting disruption from the audience and delays, the Mayor granted an exception to the meeting rules to open this item up for public comment:
George Barich of Cotati
Michael Ceremello
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Cotati City Council Minutes April 08, 2025
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND NOTICE OF WAIVING OF READING OF ALL
RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES INTRODUCED AND/OR ADOPTED UNDER THIS
AGENDA (ACTION)
Mayor Ford announced that approval of the minutes of March 25, 2025, would be moved to the next regular Council meeting, due to the date of the minutes to be approved not appearing on the agenda.
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.
Public Comment:
George Barich of Cotati
7. PRESENTATIONS
A. UPDATE ON THE SONOMA COUNTY LIBRARY BY THE COTATI LIBRARY
COMMISSIONER
Presentation by Cotati Library Commissioner Tina Poles.
Councilmembers comment, and stated that the Council is interested in opportunities for a bibliobox and more library services, including the bibliobus.
Cotati City Council Minutes April 08, 2025
Public Comment:
Neil Hancock of Cotati
Michael Ceremello
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
8. APPROVAL OF FINAL AGENDA (ACTION)
Public Comment:
Michael Hilber of Cotati
Michael Ceremello
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
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:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
George Barich of Cotati
Michael Ceremello
10. CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
B. APPROVAL OF 2025 FARMERS MARKET EVENT IN LA PLAZA PARK Councilmember Sparks requested to pull item 10A from the Consent Calendar. There being no objection from the Council, item 10A was added to the end of the Regular Agenda.
RESULT: Approve [5 TO 0] ITEM 10B
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
11. DIRECTION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
None.
12. REGULAR AGENDA (ACTION)
A. ASSEMBLY BILL (AB) 306 LETTER OF OPPOSITION
Presentation by Director of Community Development.
Cotati City Council Minutes April 08, 2025
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Michael Hilber of Cotati
Laurie-Ann Barbour of Cotati
RESULT: Approve [5 TO 0]
MOVER: John Savage, Councilmember
SECONDER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
B. CONSIDERATION OF UPDATES TO THE CITY COUNCIL RULES OF CONDUCT Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
George Barich of Cotati
Michael Hilber of Cotati
Michael Ceremello
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
Neil Hancock of Cotati
Council directed Staff to clarify that the Pledge of Allegiance will be led by the Mayor “or their designee,” an requested that Staff look into moving the agenda placement of “Public Comment on Non-Action Agenda Items.”
RESULT: Adopt [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Sylvia Lemus, Vice Mayor
SECONDER: John Savage, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
10A. AWARD OF THE 2025 STREET IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT
Report by Director of Public Works/City Engineer Craig Scott.
Councilmembers comment, and requested that the construction management agreement be modified to include labor spot checking for compliance, given the labor complaint received by the City.
Public Comment:
Cotati City Council Minutes April 08, 2025
13. Michael Hilber of Cotati
George Barich of Cotati
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
RESULT: Approve [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: John Savage, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
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:
George Barich of Cotati
Michael Hilber of Cotati
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
16. INFORMATION RECEIVED AFTER THE AGENDA WAS POSTED
17. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Ford adjourned the meeting at 8:54pm.
/s/ Kevin Patterson, Deputy City Clerk