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, May 27, 2025
6:00 PM REGULAR MEETING
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Ford called the meeting to order at 6:00pm.
2. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-ACTION AGENDA ITEMS
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 Public Works/City Engineer Craig Scott, Police Chief Chris Simmons, Senior Planner JP Harries Public Comment:
George Barich of Cotati
Michael Ceremello
Jackie Dell’Osso of Cotati
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
3. 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 – MAY 13, 2025 Mayor Ford announced that this item would be continued to the next regular meeting on June 10, 2025, due to the need to make corrections to the minutes. The item was still opened for public comment.
Public Comment:
Cotati City Council Minutes May 27, 2025
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
George Barich of Cotati
4. 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.
6. PROCLAMATIONS
A. PROCLAIMING THE MONTH OF JUNE 2025 AS PRIDE MONTH
Mayor Ford opened the item for public comment.
No public comment.
Councilmember John Savage read the proclamation.
7. PRESENTATIONS
A. PRESENTATION FROM SUPERVISOR DAVID RABBITT
Presentation by Supervisor David Rabbit.
Councilmembers comment.
Mayor Ford opened the item for public comment.
Cotati City Council Minutes May 27, 2025
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
Neil Hancock of Cotati
Michael Ceremello
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:
Jackie Dell’Osso of Cotati
Michael Ceremello
Anonymous Speaker
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
10. CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
A. REQUEST FOR SUPPORT OF SB-749 (ALLEN), PROTECTING MOBILE HOME
PARKS FROM CLOSURE
B. CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION NOMINATING PRIORITY CONSERVATION AREAS
RESULT: Approve [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Sylvia Lemus, Vice Mayor
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
11. DIRECTION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
None.
12. PUBLIC HEARINGS (ACTION)
A. CONSIDERATION, INTRODUCTION, AND FIRST READING OF A DRAFT ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTERS 17.22 ALLOWABLE LAND USES, 17.30 STANDARDS FOR ALL DEVELOPMENT AND LAND USES, 17.42 STANDARDS FOR SPECIFIC LAND USES, 17.44 TELECOMMUNICATION FACILITIES AND 17.62
PERMIT REVIEW AND DECISIONS OF THE COTATI MUNICIPAL CODE Presentation by Senior Planner JP Harries.
Cotati City Council Minutes May 27, 2025
Councilmembers comment.
No public comment.
Council edited the ordinance, adding:
Setback requirements: allow HVAC equipment to be installed within setbacks only if there is no reasonable alternative
Council requested the following modifications to come back at a future date:
17.44 Telecommunications: Add condition to say that and RF test will be conducted after installation of equipment
Home Occupation: Confirm no business license required for work from home, only for a homebased business.
RESULT: Introduced [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Sylvia Lemus, Vice Mayor
SECONDER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
B. CONSIDERATION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION APPROVING UPDATED WATER AND
SEWER RATES AND SUPERSEDING EXISTING RATES
Presentation by Director of Public Works/City Engineer Craig Scott and Mark Hildebrand of Hildebrand Consulting.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
Gary Bradley of Cotati
RESULT: Adopt [5 TO 0]
MOVER: John Savage, Councilmember
SECONDER: Sylvia Lemus, Vice Mayor
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
13. REGULAR AGENDA (ACTION)
A. AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READER (ALPR) CAMERAS DATA RETENTION
AND SHARING
Presentation by Chief of Police Chris Simmons.
Cotati City Council Minutes May 27, 2025
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Unnamed Speaker
RESULT: Approve [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
B. MAYORS AND COUNCILMEMBERS COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Frank Quint of Petaluma
Council directed Mayor Ford to support Susan Adams of Rohnert Parks for the primary seat, and Stephen Zollman of Sebastopol for the alternate seat.
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. INFORMATION RECEIVED AFTER THE AGENDA WAS POSTED
17. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Ford adjourned the meeting at 9:17pm.
/s/ Kevin Patterson, Deputy City Clerk