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, July 28, 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. Vice Mayor Harvey participated in the meeting remotely, as noticed on the meeting agenda and permitted under Government Code Section 54953(b).
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 23, 2026 RESULT: Approve [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
SECONDER: John Savage, Councilmember
AYES: Harvey, Lemus,
Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Ford
RECUSE:
3. AGENDA REVIEW (ACTION)
No changes.
Cotati City Council Minutes July 28, 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. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL GRANTIt is recommended that the City Council by motion authorize the City Manager and Chief of Police to adopt a resolution authorizing the acceptance of grant funding from the California Highway Patrol to fund the education, prevention, equipment, and enforcement of laws related to driving under the influence (DUI).
B. READOPTION OF THE CITY-WIDE SALARY SCHEDULE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026/27 TO CORRECT TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORIt is recommended the City council adopt resolutions to; (1) Readopt the City's Salary Schedule for fiscal year 2026/27 to correct a typographical error identified in the salary rate for the Police Lieutenant position; and (2) Approve the attached Side Letter Agreement between the City of Cotati and the Cotati Employees Association (CEA) amending Section 9.01(A) of the 2026–2031 Memorandum of Understanding regarding retirement benefits for Classic Members – Tier 1.
C. AXON ENTERPRISE CONTRACT
It is recommended that the City Council approve a resolution authorizing a five-year contract with Axon Enterprise, Inc. for equipment and services for the Cotati Police Department, extending the existing services Axon is currently providing the Department.
D. APPROVAL OF 2026 DANNFEST MUSIC FESTIVAL EVENT IN LA PLAZA PARK.It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution approving the 2026 DannFest Music Festival event in La Plaza Park, authorizing the sales of beer and wine, subject to the attached conditions of approval.
Councilmember Sparks requested to pull item 5A from the consent calendar. There being no objection from the Council, the item was presented directly following the vote on items 5B-5D.
RESULT: Adopt [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
SECONDER: John Savage, Councilmember
AYES: Harvey, Lemus,
Sparks, Savage
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Ford
RECUSE:
6. DIRECTION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Sparks requested a future agenda item to discuss requesting the Community-Police Advisory Committee to have a discussion about Flock. Mayor Lemus requested a future agenda item Cotati City Council Minutes July 28, 2026
to discuss the installation of a peace pole in Cotati.
7. REGULAR AGENDA (ACTION)
A. AMENDMENT TO THE SONOMA COUNTY WASTE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY
JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW HOUSEHOLD
HAZARDOUS WASTE FACILITY AND AMENDMENT TO THE CENTRAL
DISPOSAL SITE AND FORMER LANDFILLS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution approving (1) the First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement for the Sonoma County Waste Management Agency and (2) the First Amendment to the Central Disposal Site and Former Landfills Settlement Agreement; and authorizing execution of these amendments in substantially the attached forms, with minor, non-substantive revisions as may be approved by the City Attorney to permit development of a new household hazardous waste (HHW) facility.
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers discuss.
Public Comment:
Jenny Blaker of Cotati
RESULT: Adopt [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Sylvia Lemus, Vice Mayor
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
AYES: Harvey,
Lemus, Sparks,
Savage
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Ford
RECUSE:
B. FREEWAY ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT ZONING OVERLAY
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Consider establishing a Freeway Oriented Development (FOD) Overlay District applicable to properties located in proximity to U.S. 101, with an initial focus on the industrial district west of the freeway; and
2. Direct staff to initiate the necessary zoning code amendments to implement the overlay district consistent with the direction of the Planning Commission and City Council.
Presentation by Director of Community Development Noah Housh.
Councilmembers discuss.
Public Comment:
Neil Hancock of Cotati
Cotati City Council Minutes July 28, 2026
Laurie-Ann Barbour of Cotati
Jenny Blaker of Cotati
Council provided the following feedback for Staff to incorporate into a draft ordinance, to be brought back for a public hearing later in the year:
-Keep initial boundary of the Overlay was of Hwy 101, focused on Industrial zoning district -Ensure regulations do not allow proliferation of pole signs -Do not extend formula-based businesses into Industrial zoning district -Do not expand allowances for drive through retail sales -Require neighbor notification for streamlined marketing and sales events -Limit pole sign type and additional square footage to Freeway oriented zoning overlay -Require a conditional use permit for recycling facilities
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 July 24, 2026. /s/ Kevin Patterson, City Clerk
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT & PLEDGE OF ALLIGIANCE