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, January 27, 2026
6:00 PM REGULAR MEETING
1 .
CALL TO ORDER - ROLL CALL
Attendee Name Title Status
Ben Ford Mayor
Sylvia Lemus Vice Mayor
Susan Harvey Councilmember
Laura Sparks Councilmember
John Savage Councilmember
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 Mayor Lemus 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 – JAN 13, 2026 RESULT: Approve [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: John Savage, Councilmember
AYES: Harvey, Ford,
Lemus, Savage
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Sparks
RECUSE:
3. AGENDA REVIEW (ACTION)
Mayor Lemus requested to move item 7A to after 7C. There being no objection from the Council, the item was moved.
Cotati City Council Minutes January 27, 2026
4. 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.
5. CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
A. COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS AS REPRESENTATIVES AND LIAISONS TO VARIOUS COMMITTEES FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2026It is recommended that the Council have an initial conversation, and if ready, adopt a motion to assign representatives and liaisons to various committees and commissions for calendar year 2026
B. CONSIDERATION AND ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION APPROVING THE 2026 CITY OF COTATI CLIMATE READY COTATI FAIRIt is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution approving the 2026 City of Cotati Climate Ready Cotati Fair.
C. MEASURE S ANNUAL REPORT AND LETTER FROM OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024/25It is recommended that the City Council receive and file the review letter by the Measure S Citizens' Oversight Committee and the supporting Measure S Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2024/25.
D. ENDORSEMENT OF THE CITY OF COTATI’S APPLICATION FOR THE WHALE TAIL GRANT FUNDS FROM THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSIONIt is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution endorsing the City of Cotati’s application for the Whale Tail Grant funds from the California Coastal Commission.
RESULT: Adopt [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Councilmember
SECONDER: Ben Ford, Mayor
AYES: Harvey, Ford,
Lemus, Savage
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Sparks
RECUSE:
6. DIRECTION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Ford requested a future agenda item for the Council to discuss topics they would like agendized for the Community-Police Advisory Committee.
7. REGULAR AGENDA (ACTION)
A. 120 EAST COTATI AVENUE DISPOSITION AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTIt is recommended that the City Council approve a resolution directing the City Manager to execute a Disposition and Development Agreement (DDA) with Freebird Development Company, LLC for the development of 120 East Cotati Avenue as a mixed-use affordable housing project.
Before the presentation of this item, Councilmember Ford announced that he would recuse Cotati City Council Minutes January 27, 2026
himself due to owning property near the project site.
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid and Robin Zimbler of FreeBird Development.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
George Barich of Cotati
Aaron Hadzess
Katie Estupinan
Chris Palomo
Chrissy
Damon H.
After this item, Council took a brief recess.
B. RANCHO ADOBE FIRE DISTRICT LEASE EXTENSION - COTATI FIRE STATIONIt is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution approving the Second Amended Lease Agreement between the City and the Rancho Adobe Fire Distrcit (RAFD).
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Jeff Velliquette of Rancho Adobe Fire District
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
George Barich of Cotati
Council asked Staff to investigate options for striping the street parking spaces currently utilized by RAFD near the fire station.
C. APPROVAL OF 2026 COTATI CULTURAL GRANT AWARDEESIt is recommended that the City Council of the City of Cotati adopt a resolution approving the Cotati Cultural Event Small Grant Program awardees for the 2026 cycle year.
Before the presentation of this item, Mayor Lemus announced that she would recuse herself due to connections with some of the groups applying for the cultural grant.
Presentation by Recreation Manager Ashley Wilson.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Tom Kearney
Lilia Gonzalez
Maria Lemus
D. FOOD AND MOBILE BUSINESS ORDINANCE WORKSHOPIt is recommended that the City Council receive a staff report and conduct a workshop on potential code updates associated with food and mobile businesses.
Cotati City Council Minutes January 27, 2026
Presentation by Director of Community Development Noah Housh.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
George Barich of Cotati
Michael Ceremello
Jessica N of Cotati
Council provided general feedback to Staff for a potential ordinance, including:
-Support for expansion of community gardens, market gardens, and chicken keeping -Limitations on operating hours for food trucks parked next to residential parcels -Limitations on operating locations for food trucks, to not interfere with existing restaurants -Concerns over expanded parklet use/hours of use
-Limitations on operating hours for outdoor dining/parklets that abut residential/mixed use parcels
E. CONSIDERATION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CITY OF COTATI’S CYBERSECURITY AND DATA PROTECTION POLICIESIt is recommended that the City Council for the City of Cotati review and provide comment, if any, on the draft Cyber Security and Data Protection Policy.
Presentation by Director of Administrative Services Angela Courter.
Councilmembers comment.
No public comment.
Council recommended that Staff reach out to Cal Cities and/or CIRA to inquire if they have a model policy.
8. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT & COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS
Report by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers report out on local and regional events and meetings.
9. INFORMATION RECEIVED AFTER THE AGENDA WAS POSTED
10. ADJOURNMENT
Certification of Posting of the Notice: I declare under penalty of perjury that I am employed by the City of Cotati and that I posted this notice on the City’s website, bulletin boards of City Hall, Veterans’ Memorial Building and the SMART Train Depot, on or before January 23, 2026. /s/ Kevin Patterson, City Clerk
Cotati City Council Minutes January 27, 2026
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT & PLEDGE OF ALLIGIANCE