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, June 10, 2025
6:00 PM REGULAR MEETING
1. CALL TO ORDER - ROLL CALL
Mayor Ford called the meeting to order at 6:00pm.
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, Associate Planner Autumn Buss, Recreation Manager Ashley Wilson
2. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-ACTION AGENA ITEMS
Public Comment:
George Barich 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 – SPECIAL MEETING – APR 15, 2025 B. COTATI CITY COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING – MAY 13, 2025 C. COTATI CITY COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING – MAY 27, 2025 Cotati City Council Minutes June 10, 2025
RESULT: Approve [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
5. 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.
After repeated interruptions from a member of the audience, Mayor Ford called a brief recess. Upon return, the Mayor opened this non-action item for public comment.
Public Comment:
George Barich of Cotati
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
6. PROCLAMATIONS
A. PROCLAMATION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COTATI
CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH
No public comment.
Cotati City Council Minutes June 10, 2025
Mayor Ben Ford read the proclamation. Proclamation was accepted by Tina Rogers, and Kerbrina Boyd of the Sonoma State Black Faculty and Staff Association.
7. AGENDA REVIEW
8. 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 display yellow when there are 30 seconds remaining, and red when time has expired.
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
Michael Ceremello
9. CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
Before Council voted to approve the consent calendar, Councilmember Savage announced that he would recuse himself from the vote on item 8E, as he resides within the Santero LLAD. A separate vote was taken for item 8E.
A. ADOPTION OF THE CITY-WIDE SALARY SCHEDULE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025/26 B. FINANCIAL POLICIES UPDATE
C. ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION APPROVING ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS (GANN) LIMIT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025/26
D. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING A BUDGET AMENDMENT AND CONTRACT AMENDMENT FOR THE 2025 STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT E. ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION OF INTENT TO APPROVE THE PRELIMINARY
ENGINEER'S REPORT FOR THE LANDSCAPE AND LIGHTING ASSESSMENT
DISTRICT, LEVY AND COLLECT ANNUAL ASSESSMENTS, AND SET THE TIME
AND DATE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE COTATI LANDSCAPING AND LIGHTING ASSESSMENT DISTRICT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025/26
F. SECOND READING OF A DRAFT ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTERS 17.22, 17.30,
17.42, AND 17.62 OF THE COTATI MUNICIPAL CODE
RESULT: Approve [5 TO 0] Items A-D, F
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
Cotati City Council Minutes June 10, 2025
RESULT: Approve [4 TO 0] Item E
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks
NAYS: None
RECUSED: Savage
10. DIRECTION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Vice Mayor Lemus requested a future agenda item to discuss and provide direction to Cotati’s voting delegate on the Sonoma Clean Power Board, with regards to Sonoma Clean Power’s potential move to expand into Lake County, prior to the August 7 meeting date.
11. PUBLIC HEARINGS (ACTION)
A. PUBLIC HEARING AND FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 17 (LAND USE) OF THE COTATI MUNICIPAL CODE TO COMBINE THE
COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL AND GENERAL INDUSTRIAL ZONING DISTRICTS
INTO A SINGLE ZONING DISTRICT
Presentation by Associate Planner Autumn Buss.
Councilmembers comment.
No public comment.
RESULT: Approve [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: John Savage, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
12. REGULAR AGENDA (ACTION)
A. APPROVAL OF 2025 RUNNING FENCE RUNNING EVENT AND FESTIVAL IN LA
PLAZA PARK
Presentation by Recreation Manager Ashley Wilson and John Rose of Empire Runners.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
Council approved the event, adding a bullet point to the conditions of approval under Road Closure (14B), stating “Street will be re-opened as soon as is safely possible.” Cotati City Council Minutes June 10, 2025
RESULT: Adopt [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Sylvia Lemus, Vice Mayor
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
B. ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FISCAL YEARS 2025/26 AND 2026/27 BUDGETS
Presentation by Director of Administrative Services Angela Courter.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
RESULT: Adopt [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
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. INFORMATION RECEIVED AFTER THE AGENDA WAS POSTED
16. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Ford adjourned the meeting at 9:01pm.
/s/ Kevin Patterson, Deputy City Clerk