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, August 26, 2025
6:00 PM REGULAR MEETING
1. CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL
Mayor Ford called the meeting to order at 6:00pm.
2. 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 – AUG 12, 2025 No public comment.
RESULT: Approved [5-0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
3. PROCLAMATIONS
A. WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY PROCLAMATION
Mayor Ford read the proclamation. Proclamation was accepted by Melanie Jones-Carter of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women.
4. AGENDA REVIEW (ACTION)
No action. After the meeting was interrupted from the audience, the Mayor opened the item for public comment.
Public Comment:
George Barich of Cotati
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
5. 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 2025-03, Cotati City Council Minutes August 26, 2025
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 seconds remaining, and red when time has expired.
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
Michael Ceremello
George Barich of Cotati
6. CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
A. APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE SCHEMATIC DESIGN CONTRACT FOR
THE VERONDA FALLETTI RANCH BARNS
RESULT: Approve [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Sylvia Lemus, Vice Mayor
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
7. DIRECTION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Savage requested a future proclamation for Trans Remembrance Month in November.
Mayor Ford requested a future agenda item on Polluters Pay Climate Superfund legislation (SB 684 & AB 1243)
8. REGULAR AGENDA (ACTION)
A. 120 E. COTATI AVENUE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT DESIGN DISCUSSION Before the presentation of this item, Mayor Ben Ford announced that he would recuse himself because he lives near the project in question.
Presentation by Senior Planner JP Harries and Robin Zimmler of Freebird Development Company.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
Chris Palomo of Carpenters Local Union 751
Larry Hall of Carpenters Local Union 751
Council provided the following feedback to Staff and the Project Applicants:
-Make the exit from the project onto E. Cotati Ave be right-turn only -Investigate ways to widen the proposed bike lane
Cotati City Council Minutes August 26, 2025
B. CONSIDER A FIRE IMPACT FEE AND DEVELOPMENT COORDINATION
AGREEMENT WITH THE RANCHO ADOBE FIRE DISTRICT
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid and Chief Jeff Velliquette of the Rancho Adobe Fire District.
Councilmembers comment.
No public comment.
RESULT: Adopt [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
C. APPROVAL OF RESOLUTIONS TO ELIMINATE DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES
FOR DEED RESTRICTED AFFORDABLE UNITS IN INCLUSIONARY
MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENTS, HIGH-QUALITY LODGING PROJECTS AND
ASSOCIATED DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEE POLICIES
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Council elected to discuss this item in three sections, one for each of the Resolutions being considered. Public comment was opened for each section.
Affordable/Multi-Family Inclusionary Projects:
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
Omar Lopez of Generation Housing
Council directed staff to modify the amended resolution to replace “15%” under Section 2 of the “be it resolved” section to “25%,” to encourage additional affordable housing production.
RESULT: Adopted [5-0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Sylvia Lemus, Vice Mayor
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
Lodging
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
RESULT: Adopted [5-0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Sylvia Lemus, Vice Mayor
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
Cotati City Council Minutes August 26, 2025
General Development Impact Fee Policies
No public comment.
Council directed staff to modify the square footage of an addition to a home that would trigger development impact fees from 400 square feet to 500 square feet, in order to be consistent with Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District threshold for development impact fees.
RESULT: Adopted [5-0]
MOVER: Sylvia Lemus, Vice Mayor
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
D. QUARTERLY FINANCIAL UPDATE - UNAUDITED FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025
RESULT: Approve [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
Presentation by Director of Administrative Services Angela Courter.
Councilmembers comment.
No public comment.
9. LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
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 acknowledgment does not take the place of authentic relationships with Indigenous communities but serves as a gesture of respect to the land we are on.
10. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT & COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS
Report by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers report out on local and regional events and meetings.
11. INFORMATION RECEIVED AFTER THE AGENDA WAS POSTED
12. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Ford adjourned the meeting at 9:52pm.
Cotati City Council Minutes August 26, 2025
/s/ Kevin Patterson, Deputy City Clerk