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 24, 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 Community Development Noah Housh, Director of Public Works/City Engineer Craig Scott, Police Chief Chris Simmons
2. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-ACTION AGENDA ITEMS
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
George Barich of Cotati
Michael Ceremello
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 – JUNE 10, 2025 Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
Cotati City Council Minutes June 24, 2025
RESULT: Approve [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
SECONDER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
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.
5. PRESENTATIONS
A. PRESENTATION BY RECOLOGY SONOMA MARIN
Presentation by Celia Ferber and Logan Harvey of Recology.
Councilmembers comment.
6. AGENDA REVIEW
No changes.
7. 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 Cotati City Council Minutes June 24, 2025
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 2025-02, 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 thirty (30) seconds remaining, and red when time has expired.
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
Michael Ceremello
8. CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
A. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING FISCAL YEAR 25/26 SB1 LIST OF
PROJECTS AS REQUIRED BY THE ROAD REPAIR AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2017
B. SECOND 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
C. APPROVAL OF ANNUAL STORM WATER SUPPORT SERVICES AGREEMENT D. APPROVAL OF 2025 NIXON FAMILY CELEBRATION OF LIFE EVENT IN LA
PLAZA PARK
RESULT: Adopt [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
9. DIRECTION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
None.
10. REGULAR AGENDA (ACTION)
A. CITY COUNCIL RULES UPDATE
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Michael Ceremello
Council provided feedback to staff on the proposed rules, and asked for a new version to be brought back for adoption at the next regular City Council meeting:
- Moving Pledge of Allegiance and Land Acknowledgment to immediately after the Regular Cotati City Council Minutes June 24, 2025
Agenda.
- Merge current Announcements section with printed information at the top of the meeting agenda.
- Remove action/non-action distinction from agenda items. - Add Proclamations to items that are typically opened for public comment. - Remove Public Comment on Non-Action Agenda Items agenda heading.
11. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
Report by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
12. CITY COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS
Councilmembers report out on local and regional events and meetings.
13. INFORMATION RECEIVED AFTER THE AGENDA WAS POSTED
14. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Ford adjourned the meeting at 7:36pm.
/s/ Kevin Patterson, Deputy City Clerk