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, February 24, 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 Vice Mayor Harvey 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 – FEB 10, 2026 RESULT: Approve [3 TO 0]
MOVER: Ben Ford, Mayor
SECONDER: John Savage, Councilmember
AYES: Harvey, Ford,
Savage
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Lemus, Sparks
RECUSE:
3. PRESENTATIONS
A. COTATI HISTORICAL SOCIETY PRESENTATIONIt is recommended that the City Council receive a presentation from the Cotati Historical Society. No action will be taken.
Cotati City Council Minutes February 24, 2026
Presentation by John Dell’Osso and Ed Gilardi of the Cotati Historical Society.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
George Barich 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.
6. CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
7. DIRECTION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
None.
8. REGULAR AGENDA (ACTION)
A. CONSIDER SUBMISSION OF A LETTER OF INTEREST TO JOIN THE RENEWAL ENTERPRISE DISTRICT JOINT POWERS AUTHORITYIt is recommended that that the City Council adopt a motion authorizing the Mayor to send a letter expressing interest to join the Renewal Enterprise District (RED) Joint Powers Authority, authorize the Mayor to express the same before the RED Board of Directors and authorize the City Manager to take all necessary steps to fully evaluate RED membership and make recommendations to the City Council at a future date.
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
B. CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING APPLICATION TO AND
PARTICIPATION IN THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROHOUSING DESIGNATION PROGRAMIt is recommended that the City Council adopt the accompanying resolution authorizing application to and participation in the California Department of Housing and Community Development Prohousing Designation Program.
Presentation by Senior Planner JP Harries.
Cotati City Council Minutes February 24, 2026
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
C. ANNUAL POLICE CHIEF REPORT TO THE COMMUNITYIt is recommended that the City Council receive and discuss the annual Police Chief report for the calendar year 2025.
Presentation by Chief of Police Chris Simmons.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
9. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT & COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS
Report by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers report out on local and regional events and meetings.
10. INFORMATION RECEIVED AFTER THE AGENDA WAS POSTED
11. 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 February 20, 2026. /s/ Kevin Patterson, City Clerk
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT & PLEDGE OF ALLIGIANCE