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, September 23, 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 Absent
Laura Sparks Councilmember Present
John Savage Councilmember Present
Staff Present: City Manager Damien O’Bid, City Attorney John Bakker, 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. 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 – SEP 9, 2025
RESULT: Approve [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
SECONDER: John Savage, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Harvey
3. PRESENTATIONS
A. INTRODUCTION OF LIZ RUSSELL, DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE FOR SENATOR
CHRISTOPHER CABALDON
Cotati City Council Minutes September 23, 2025
Liz Russell gave a brief presentation.
4. AGENDA REVIEW (ACTION)
City Manager O’Bid recommended removing Item 6B from the consent calendar, stating it was not ready for a vote. There being no objection from the Council, the item was removed.
No public comment.
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, 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.
6. CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
A. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE 2025 GIRASOL COLLECTIVE
DAY OF THE DEAD EVENT IN LA PLAZA PARK
C. RESPONSE TO THE 2024-25 CIVIL GRAND JURY, ANIMAL SERVICES D. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE COMPLETED PARK AND RIDE
PROJECT IMPROVEMENTS
E. APPROVAL OF AN AGREEMENT TO UPDATE THE NEXUS STUDY FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES
F. APPROVAL TO CANCEL THE NOVEMBER 11, 2025 CITY COUNCIL MEETING During Agenda Review, City Manager O’Bid recommended removing item 6B from the Consent Calendar. Motion to approve the Consent Calendar included only Items A & C-F.
RESULT: Approve [4 TO 0] ITEMS A, C-F
MOVER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
SECONDER: John Savage, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Harvey
7. DIRECTION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
None.
8. REGULAR AGENDA (ACTION)
A. SANTERO WAY AND TOC REZONING WORKSHOP
Before the presentation of this item, Councilmember Savage announced that he would recuse Cotati City Council Minutes September 23, 2025
himself due to living within the Santero Way Zoning District.
Presentation by Director of Community Development Noah Housh.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
After discussion, Council provided feedback that they supported Staff’s recommendations.
B. DOWNTOWN PARKING LOT LEASE RENEWAL
Before the presentation of this item, Mayor Ford announced that he would recuse himself, due to living near the parking lot in question.
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers comment.
No public comment.
RESULT: Adopt [3 TO 0]
MOVER: John Savage, Councilmember
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
AYES: Lemus, Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Harvey
RECUSE: Ford
C. APPOINTMENT OF A VOTING DELEGATE AND ALTERNATE TO THE 2025
LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES (LOCC) ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers comment.
No public comment.
By motion, Council voted to appoint Mayor Ben Ford as the voting delegate, with Vice Mayor Sylvia Lemus serving as the first alternate, and City Manager Damien O’Bid as the second alternate.
RESULT: Approve [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
SECONDER: John Savage, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Harvey
Cotati City Council Minutes September 23, 2025
D. APPROVAL OF AN EXTENDED COUNCILMEMBER LEAVE OF ABSENCE Before the presentation of this item, Councilmember Laura Sparks announced that she would recuse herself, due to being the subject of the item in question.
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
Neil Hancock of Cotati
RESULT: Approve [3 TO 0]
MOVER: John Savage, Councilmember
SECONDER: Sylvia Lemus, Vice Mayor
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Savage
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Harvey
RECUSE: Sparks
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. CLOSED SESSION
A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—EXISTING LITIGATION (PARAGRAPH (1) OF SUBDIVISION (D) OF SECTION 54956.9) NAME OF CASE: CITY OF COTATI V.
COUNTRYSIDE MHP LLC, SONOMA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT CASE NO. 24CY07691
Mayor Ford announced the closed session topic.
No public comment.
Council adjourned to closed session at 7:48pm.
12. REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
Cotati City Council Minutes September 23, 2025
Council returned from closed session at 8:18pm. Mayor Ford announced that there was nothing to report out of closed session.
13. INFORMATION RECEIVED AFTER THE AGENDA WAS POSTED
14. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Ford adjourned the meeting at 8:19pm.
/s/ Kevin Patterson, City Clerk