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
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 Absent
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 23, 2026 No public comment.
RESULT: Approve [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
SECONDER: John Savage, Councilmember
AYES: Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
ABSENT: Ford
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.
Public Comment:
Fred Ptucha of Veterans for Peace
Alice Kibwaa of Rancho Cotati Rotary Club
Cheryl Harrington of Cotati
Joanne Jaeger of Cotati
5. CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
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.
B. READOPTION OF THE CITY-WIDE SALARY SCHEDULE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026/27 TO CORRECT TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR
C. AXON ENTERPRISE CONTRACT
D. APPROVAL OF 2026 DANNFEST MUSIC FESTIVAL EVENT IN LA PLAZA PARK RESULT: Adopt [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
SECONDER: John Savage, Councilmember
AYES: Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
ABSENT: Ford
5A. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL GRANT Item was pulled from the Consent Calendar by Councilmember Sparks.
Presentation by Police Chief Chris Simmons.
Councilmembers discuss.
No public comment.
RESULT: Adopt [4 TO 0]
MOVER: John Savage, Councilmember
SECONDER: Susan Harvey, Vice Mayor
AYES: Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
ABSENT: Ford
Cotati City Council Minutes July 28, 2026
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 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
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: Lemus, Harvey, Sparks, Savage
ABSENT: Ford
B. FREEWAY ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT ZONING OVERLAY
Presentation by Director of Community Development Noah Housh.
Councilmembers discuss.
Public Comment:
Neil Hancock of Cotati
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:
-Clarify and retain initial boundary of the Overlay west of Hwy 101, properties fronting Redwood Drive (north of Helman)
-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 only -Require a full conditional use permit for recycling facilities -Clarify intent is not described as “auto-centric” to ensure proper future interpretation
Cotati City Council Minutes July 28, 2026
8. 9.
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.
10. INFORMATION RECEIVED AFTER THE AGENDA WAS POSTED
11. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Lemus adjourned the meeting at 7:51pm.
/s/ Kevin Patterson, City Clerk