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, June 23, 2026
6:00 PM REGULAR MEETING
1. CALL TO ORDER - ROLL CALL
Mayor Lemus called the meeting to order at 6:00pm. Vice Mayor Harvey participated in the meeting remotely, as noticed on the meeting agenda and permitted under Government Code Section 54953(b).
Attendee Name Title Status
Sylvia Lemus Mayor Present
Susan Harvey Vice Mayor Remote
Ben Ford 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 – JUNE 9, 2026 No public comment.
RESULT: Approve [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Ben Ford, Councilmember
SECONDER: John Savage, Councilmember
AYES: Lemus, Harvey, Ford, Sparks, Savage
3. PROCLAMATIONS (ACTION)
A. PROCLAIMING THE MONTH OF JULY 2026 AT PARKS MAKE LIFE BETTER MONTH
Cotati City Council Minutes June 23, 2026
Proclamation was read by Mayor Lemus. Proclamation was accepted by Ashley Wilson, Recreation Manager for the City of Cotati.
Public Comment:
Cactus Pete
4. AGENDA REVIEW (ACTION)
City Manager O’Bid recommended to move items 9A and 9B to immediately follow item 4. There being no objection from the Council, the items were moved.
No public comment.
9A. RESOLUTION OF INTENTION TO FORM AN ENHANCED INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING DISTRICT (EIFD); ESTABLISH THE COTATI EIFD PUBLIC
FINANCE AUTHORITY
This item was moved during agenda review.
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid, and Richard Kerrigan and Joseph Dieguez of Kosmont & Associates.
Councilmembers discuss.
No public comment.
RESULT: Adopt [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Ben Ford, Councilmember
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
AYES: Lemus, Harvey, Ford, Sparks, Savage
9B. COTATI EMPLOYEE ASSOCIATION (CEA) MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING
This item was moved during agenda review.
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers discuss.
No public comment.
RESULT: Adopt [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
SECONDER: John Savage, Councilmember
AYES: Lemus, Harvey, Ford, Sparks, Savage
Cotati City Council Minutes June 23, 2026
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:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
Eric Parker of Cotati
6. CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
A. ADOPTION OF THE CITY-WIDE SALARY SCHEDULE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026/27 B. COOPERATIVE FUNDING AGREEMENT, REDWOOD DRIVE CLASS IV BIKE
LANE DEMONSTRATION PROJECT AND ADA TRANSITION PLAN
C. CONSIDER ACCEPTANCE OF THE PUTNAM PARK PHASE 1 IMPROVEMENTS
PROJECT
D. AUTHORIZATION TO PURCHASE REPLACEMENT INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS
E. APPROVAL OF ANNUAL STORM WATER SUPPORT SERVICES AGREEMENT RESULT: Adopt [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Ben Ford, Councilmember
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
AYES: Lemus, Harvey, Ford, Sparks, Savage
7. DIRECTION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Vice Mayor Harvey requested a future agenda item on approving changes to the Groundwater Sustainability Agency JPA.
8. PUBLIC HEARINGS (ACTION)
A. RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE ENGINEER'S REPORT, CONFIRM THE
ASSESSMENT DIAGRAM AND ANNUAL ASSESSMENT AMOUNTS, AND LEVYING
AND COLLECTION OF THE ANNUAL ASSESSMENTS FOR THE COTATI
LANDSCAPING AND LIGHTING ASSESSMENT DISTRICT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026-27
Before the presentation of this item, Councilmember Savage announced that he would recuse himself, due to owning property within an LLAD.
Presentation by Director of Public Works/City Engineer Craig Scott.
Councilmembers discuss.
Cotati City Council Minutes June 23, 2026
No public comment.
RESULT: Adopt [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
SECONDER: Ben Ford, Councilmember
AYES: Lemus, Harvey, Ford, Sparks
RECUSED: Savage
B. PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER OBJECTIONS TO THE OUTSTANDING
BACKFLOW TESTING CHARGES AND LEVYING OF ASSESSMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026-27
Presentation by Director of Public Works/City Engineer Craig Scott.
Councilmembers discuss.
No public comment.
RESULT: Adopt [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Ben Ford, Councilmember
SECONDER: John Savage, Councilmember
AYES: Lemus, Harvey, Ford, Sparks, Savage
9. REGULAR AGENDA (ACTION)
C. JOINING COALITION TO SUPPORT TORT REFORM
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers discuss.
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
RESULT: Approve [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
SECONDER: Ben Ford, Councilmember
AYES: Lemus, Harvey, Ford, Sparks, Savage
D. FINANCIAL POLICIES UPDATE
Presentation by Director of Administrative Services Angela Courter.
Councilmembers discuss.
No public comment.
Cotati City Council Minutes June 23, 2026
RESULT: Adopt [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Ben Ford, Councilmember
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
AYES: Lemus, Harvey, Ford, Sparks, Savage
10. 11.
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.
12. A.
B.
13. CLOSED SESSION
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL--EXISTING LITIGATION
(CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9(d)(1))
NAME OF CASE: GEORGE BARICH V. CITY OF COTATI, DAMIEN O'BID AND DOES 1-10, INCLUSIVE, CASE NO. 3:26-CV-4944
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL--ANTICIPATED LITIGATION,
SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE TO LITIGATION PURSUANT TO CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9(D)(2): 1 CASE
Mayor Lemus announced the closed session topics.
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
Council adjourned to closed session at 8:11pm.
Council returned from closed session at 9:40pm. 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 9:41pm.
/s/ Kevin Patterson, City Clerk