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, July 08, 2025
6:00 PM REGULAR MEETING
1. CALL TO ORDER - ROLL CALL
Mayor Ford called the meeting to order at 6:02pm. At the start of the meeting, Councilmember Harvey (appearing remotely) was not present. Councilmember Harvey joined the meeting at 6:04pm.
Attendee Name Title Status
Ben Ford Mayor Present
Sylvia Lemus Vice Mayor Present
Susan Harvey Councilmember Remote
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:
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 – JUN 24, 2025 RESULT: Adopt [5 - 0]
MOVER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
SECONDER: John Savage, Councilmember
Cotati City Council Minutes July 08, 2025
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.
After interruption from a member of the audience, the Mayor elected to open public comment.
Public Comment:
George Barich of Cotati
5. AGENDA REVIEW
No changes.
6. 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 thirty (30) seconds remaining, and red when time has expired.
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
Cotati City Council Minutes July 08, 2025
Michael Ceremello
7. CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
B. FISCAL YEAR 2025-26 CITY VEHICLE REPLACEMENTS AND RESOLUTION
AUTHORIZING CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL GRANT
C. UPDATE TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING RULES
D. CONSIDER AWARDING THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR THE
SUNFLOWER PARK IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT
E. ADOPTION OF THE CITY-WIDE SALARY SCHEDULE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025/26 F. DECLARATION OF PARCEL ON SANTERO WAY TO BE EXEMPT SURPLUS
PROPERTY
H. ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION DECLARING INTENTION TO ANNEX CERTAIN PROPERTY TO COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT NO. 2017-01 (PUBLIC
SERVICES)
I. SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING DATE FOR CONSIDERATION OF OBJECTIONS TO
THE OUTSTANDING BACKFLOW TESTING CHARGES AND LEVYING OF ASSESSMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025-26
Councilmember Sparks requested to pull item 7A from the Consent Calendar. Item was added to the end of the Regular Agenda.
Vice Mayor Lemus requested to pull item 7G from the Consent Calendar. Item was added to the end of the Regular Agenda.
Councilmember Savage announced he would recuse himself from the vote on item 7F, as he resides near the property in question.
RESULT: Adopt [5 - 0] Items B, C, D, E, H, I
MOVER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
SECONDER: Sylvia Lemus, Vice Mayor
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
RESULT: Adopt [4 - 0] Item F
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks
NAYS: None
RECUSED: Savage
8. DIRECTION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Cotati City Council Minutes July 08, 2025
None.
9. PUBLIC HEARINGS (ACTION)
A. RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE ENGINEER'S REPORT, CONFIRM THE
ASSESSMENT DIAGRAM AND ANNUAL ASSESSMENT AMOUNTS, AND LEVYING
AND COLLECTION OF THE ANNUAL ASSESSMENTS FOR THE COTATI LANDSCAPING AND LIGHTING ASSESSMENT DISTRICT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025- 26 Before the presentation for this item, Councilmember Savage announced that he was recusing himself because he resides in one of the Landscape Assessment Districts.
Presentation by Engineering Technician Henry Babits.
Councilmembers comment.
No public comment.
RESULT: Approve [4 - 0]
MOVER: Sylvia Lemus, Vice Mayor
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks
NAYS: None
RECUSED: Savage
10. REGULAR AGENDA (ACTION)
A. MICROGRID PROJECT UPDATE
Presentation by Elliot Feldman of Schneider Electric.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Neil Hancock of Cotati
RESULT: Approved [5-0]
MOVER: John Savage, Councilmember
SECONDER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
B. CONSIDERATION AND DIRECTION TO THE CITY’S WATER ADVISORY
COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE REGARDING THE PROPOSED WATER SUPPLY
AGREEMENT BETWEEN MARIN MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT AND SONOMA WATER
Presentation by Director of Public Works/City Engineer Craig Scott and Paul Sellier of Marin Municipal Water Agency.
Cotati City Council Minutes July 08, 2025
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Neil Hancock of Cotati
Council gave direction to the WAC member to conditionally support the proposed water supply agreement, provided the provision regarding construction of the Petaluma aqueduct between Ely and Kastania remain in the MMWD agreement.
RESULT: Approve [5 - 0]
MOVER: John Savage, Councilmember
SECONDER: Sylvia Lemus, Vice Mayor
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
C. DISCUSS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION TO THE CITY'S REPRESENTATIVE ON THE
SONOMA CLEAN POWER BOARD OF DIRECTORS REGARDING SONOMA CLEAN
POWER EXPANSION TO LAKE COUNTY
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers comment.
No public comment.
Council directed Vice Mayor Lemus to support the expansion of Sonoma Clean Power Service to Lake County, in her role on the Board of Directors for Sonoma Clean Power. 7A.
7G.
ACCEPTANCE OF THE SIDEWALK GAP CLOSURE PROJECT
This item, originally on the Consent Calendar, was pulled by Councilmember Sparks and added to the end of the Regular Agenda.
Report by Director of Public Works Craig Scott.
Councilmembers comment.
No public comment.
Council continued this item to the next regular Council meeting, to give time for the contractor to make repairs where the construction material had failed prematurely.
APPROVAL OF 2025 COTATI ACCORDION FESTIVAL AND ASSOCIATED STREET
CLOSURES
This item, originally on the Consent Calendar, was pulled by Vice Mayor Lemus and added to the end of the Regular Agenda.
Report by Recreation Manager Ashley Wilson.
Cotati City Council Minutes July 08, 2025
Councilmembers comment.
No public comment.
Council requested that in the future, when events are seeking fee waivers outside of what is allowed under the Parks Policy, that they submit a proposed budget for their event, or equivalent.
RESULT: Approved [5 - 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
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 9:25pm.
/s/ Kevin Patterson, Deputy City Clerk