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, April 14, 2026
6:00 PM REGULAR MEETING
1. CALL TO ORDER - ROLL CALL
Mayor Lemus called the meeting to order at 6:00pm.
Attendee Name Title Status
Sylvia Lemus Mayor Present
Susan Harvey Vice Mayor Present
Ben Ford Councilmember Present
John Savage Councilmember Present
Laura Sparks Councilmember Leave of Absence
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, Lieutenant Paul Goodin, Associate Planner Autumn Buss
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND NOTICE OF WAIVING OF READING OF ALL
RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES INTRODUCED AND/OR ADOPTED UNDER THIS
AGENDA (ACTION)
Public Comment:
Michael Ceremello
Jessica N of Cotati
A. COTATI CITY COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING – MAR 24, 2026 RESULT: Approve [3 TO 0] Regular Meeting
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Vice Mayor
SECONDER: John Savage, Councilmember
AYES: Lemus, Harvey, Savage
NAYS: None
ABSTAIN: Ford
ABSENT: Sparks
Cotati City Council Minutes April 14, 2026
B. COTATI CITY COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING – MAR 24, 2026 RESULT: Approve [4 TO 0] Special Meeting
MOVER: Ben Ford, Councilmember
SECONDER: Susan Harvey, Vice Mayor
AYES: Lemus, Harvey, Ford, Savage
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Sparks
3. AGENDA REVIEW (ACTION)
City Manager O’Bid recommended that the Council consider item 7B prior to 7A. There being no objections from the Council, the items were flipped.
Public Comment:
Michael Ceremello
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.
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
Jessica N of Cotati
Michael Ceremello
Neil Hancock of Cotati
5. CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
A. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE 2026 COTATI SHORT FILM
FESTIVAL EVENT IN LA PLAZA PARK AND THE COTATI ROOM OF THE RAY
MILLER COMMUNITY CENTER
B. CONSIDER AWARDING THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR THE CLASS 1
PATHWAY MAINTENANCE PROJECT
C. SUPPORT OF AB 2596
RESULT: Adopt [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Vice Mayor
SECONDER: John Savage, Councilmember
AYES: Lemus, Harvey, Ford, Savage
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Sparks
Cotati City Council Minutes April 14, 2026
6. DIRECTION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
None.
7. B.
PUBLIC HEARINGS (ACTION)
INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO
REZONING MULTIPLE PARCELS TO THE TRANSIT ORIENTED
COMMUNITIES (TOC) AND SANTERO WAY (SW) ZONING DISTRICTS
AND MAKE ANY FURTHER NEEDED REVISIONS TO IMPLEMENT THE
TOC LAND USE POLICIES
This item was moved to be heard before item 7A during Agenda Review.
Before the presentation of this item, Councilmember Savage announced that he would recuse himself, due to owning property in the subject area.
Presentation by Director of Community Development Noah Housh.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
RESULT: Approve [3 TO 0]
MOVER: Ben Ford, Councilmember
SECONDER: Susan Harvey, Vice Mayor
AYES: Lemus, Harvey, Ford
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Sparks
RECUSED: Savage
A. FOOD AND MOBILE BUSINESS ORDINANCE
Presentation by Associate Planner Autumn Buss.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Bill Katsaros of Spancky’s Bar
Audrey De Vere Hunt of 8-Ball Bar
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
Council voted to introduce the ordinance, making the following changes to Section 9 of the proposed ordinance at the request of Staff:
-17.42.250(C)(7): Replace “refraining from the use” with “the prohibition.” -17.42.250(E)(1)(e): Add “or the vision triangle as defined in this code” to the end of the sentence.
-17.42.250(F): Amend to read “Additional standards in the Commercial Industrial (CI) zoning Cotati City Council Minutes April 14, 2026
district for food trucks operating on an intermittent, short-term basis on private property and in the public right-of-way, where allowed by Chapter 17.22 (Allowable Land Uses) of this title:”. -17.42.250(F)(1)(c): Delete this standard.
-17.42.250(F)(3)(a): Replace “approved parking spaces” with “allowable parking areas.” -17.42.240(D)(1): Remove “as.”
RESULT: Introduce [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Vice Mayor
SECONDER: John Savage, Councilmember
AYES: Lemus, Harvey, Ford, Savage
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Sparks
8. REGULAR AGENDA (ACTION)
A. RESOLUTION TO PROTECT COMMUNITY SAFETY IN THE EVENT OF A
SIGNIFICANT IMMIGRATION ACTION
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers comment.
Public Comment:
Michael Ceremello
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
RESULT: Adopt [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Ben Ford, Councilmember
SECONDER: John Savage, Councilmember
AYES: Lemus, Harvey, Ford, Savage
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Sparks
9. 10.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT & PLEDGE OF ALLIGIANCE
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 millenia. 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.
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
Cotati City Council Minutes April 14, 2026
12. 13.
A. CONFERENCE WITH CITY LABOR NEGOTIATORS (GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957.6) CITY DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE: CITY MANAGER OR DESIGNEE. EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION: COTATI EMPLOYEES
ASSOCIATION (CEA)
Mayor Lemus announced the closed session topic. No public comment. Council adjourned to closed session at 8:39pm.
REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
Council returned from closed session at 9:43pm. Mayor Lemus announced that there was nothing to report out of closed session.
INFORMATION RECEIVED AFTER THE AGENDA WAS POSTED
14. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Lemus adjourned the meeting at 9:44pm.
/s/ Kevin Patterson, City Clerk