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, October 28, 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, 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 – OCT 14, 2025 No public comment.
RESULT: Approve [5-0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
3. PROCLAMATIONS
A. NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH PROCLAMATION Mayor Ford read the proclamation. Proclamation was accepted by Autumn Brasset of Becoming Cotati City Council Minutes October 28, 2025
Independent.
B. TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBERANCE
Councilmember Savage read the proclamation. Proclamation was accepted by Althea and Sid.
Public Comment:
Adrienne Lauby of Cotati
4. AGENDA REVIEW (ACTION)
No changes.
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 seconds remaining, and red when time has expired.
Public Comment:
Jenny Blaker of Cotati
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
Jessica N. of Cotati
6. CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
B. ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN AGREEMENT WITH STREETLIGHT
RESTORATION SPECIALISTS, INC TO REFURBISH STREETLIGHTS ON OLD REDWOOD HWY AT E. COTATI AVENUE AND AT VALPARAISO AVENUE AND
AMEND THE ADOPTED BUDGET TO REALLOCATE REQUIRED FUNDING D. SECOND READING AND ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE UPDATING THE RULES
OF CONDUCT FOR PARKS AND OTHER PUBLIC AREAS AND ADDING PERMIT PROCEDURES BY AMENDING CHAPTERS 4.04 (FEES FOR USE OF FACILITIES),
7.12 (LICENSING AND KEEPING OF DOGS AND CATS), 7.24 (ANIMAL RESTRICTIONS), 7.28 (DOGS IN PARKS DURING FESTIVALS), 9.33 (PUBLIC URINATION, DEFECATION AND EXPOSURE), 9.36 (CONDUCT IN PARKS, PLAZAS, STREETS AND SIDEWALKS AND OTHER PLACES) AND 9.40 (OBSTRUCTING STREETS AND SIDEWALKS) OF THE COTATI MUNICIPAL CODE
Councilmember Sparks requested to pull item 6C from the consent calendar. Councilmember Savage requested to pull item 6A. There being no objection from the Council, the items were added to the beginning of the regular agenda. Motion to approve the consent calendar included only items 6B & 6D.
RESULT: Adopt [5-0] Items 6B, 6D
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Sylvia Lemus, Vice Mayor
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
Cotati City Council Minutes October 28, 2025
7. DIRECTION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
None.
8. PUBLIC HEARINGS (ACTION)
A. INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 14 OF THE COTATI MUNICIPAL CODE FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING
STANDARDS CODE WITH AMENDMENTS
Presentation by Director of Community Development Noah Housh and Building Official Eric Seabrook of Phillips Seabrook Associates.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
Neil Hancock of Cotati
RESULT: Introduce [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Sylvia Lemus, Vice Mayor
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
9. REGULAR AGENDA (ACTION)
6A. ADOPT A RESOLUTION FOR APPROVAL OF AN AGREEMENT WITH PJM
LANDSCAPE TO REPAVE THE DELANO PARK PATHWAY AND AMEND THE
BUDGET FOR THE REQUIRED APPROPRIATIONS
Item was pulled from the consent calendar by Councilmember Savage.
Presentation by Director of Public Works/City Engineer Craig Scott.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Jenny Blaker of Cotati
Jessica N. of Cotati
After discussion, Council voted to approve the agreement as written, but would re-evaluate the Delano Park pathway as part of the future Valpariso Road project.
RESULT: Approve [5-0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
Cotati City Council Minutes October 28, 2025
6C.
A.
CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION APPROVING A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE CONDITION ASSESSMENTS OF THE CITY'S SEWER
LIFT STATIONS AND WELL SITES
Item was pulled from the consent calendar by Councilmember Sparks.
Presentation by Director of Public Works/City Engineer Craig Scott.
Councilmembers comment.
No public comment.
RESULT: Approved [5-0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Sylvia Lemus, Vice Mayor
AYES: Ford, Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
PROVIDE DIRECTION TO THE CITY'S WATER ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MEMBER ON THE WATER ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO SONOMA COUNTY
WATER AGENCY STATEMENT OF INTERESTS RELATED TO THE PROPOSED
NEW EEL-RUSSIAN FACILITY AND THE ASSOCIATED WATER DIVERSION
AGREEMENT UNDERTAKEN BY THE EEL RUSSIAN PROJECT AUTHORITY Presentation by Director of Public Works/City Engineer Craig Scott.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Neil Hancock of Cotati
Council provided direction to the City’s Water Advisory Committee member to support the statement of interests.
B. FISCAL YEAR 2025/26 -FIRST QUARTER FINANCIAL UPDATE - REPORT FOR
SUMMARY OF REVENUE SOURCES, CASH AND INVESTMENTS, AND FISCAL
RESILIENCE
Presentation by Director of Administrative Services Angela Courter.
Councilmembers comment.
No public comment.
10. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT & COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS
Report by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers report out on local and regional events and meetings.
Cotati City Council Minutes October 28, 2025
11. INFORMATION RECEIVED AFTER THE AGENDA WAS POSTED
12. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Ford adjourned the meeting at 8:15pm.
/s/ Kevin Patterson, City Clerk