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, September 08, 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
Laura Sparks Councilmember Present
John Savage Councilmember Absent
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 – SPECIAL MEETING – AUG 18, 2026 B. COTATI CITY COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING – AUG 25, 2026 No public comment.
RESULT: Approve [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Ben Ford, Councilmember
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
AYES: Lemus, Harvey, Ford, Sparks
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Savage
3. PROCLAMATIONS (ACTION)
A. LATINO HERITAGE MONTH
Cotati City Council Minutes September 08, 2026
Mayor Lemus read the proclamation. Proclamation was accepted by Omar Galvan of Galvan’s Eatery, and students from the Rancho Cotate High School MEChA Club.
B. CREEK WEEK 2026
Councilmember Ford read the proclamation. Proclamation was accepted by Jenny Blaker of the Cotati Friends of the Laguna.
C. CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
Mayor Lemus read the proclamation, nobody was present to receive.
4. PRESENTATIONS
A. PRESENTATION BY THE COTATI LIBRARY COMMISSIONER
Presentation by Library Commissioner Tina Poles.
No public comment.
5. AGENDA REVIEW (ACTION)
City Manager Damien O’Bid recommended to continue item 7B to a date uncertain. There being no objection from the Council, the item was continued.
No public comment.
6. 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
7. CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
Councilmember Sparks requested to pull item 7D from the Consent Calendar. There being no objection from the Council, the item was added to the end of the Regular Agenda. Item 7B was continued to a date uncertain during Agenda Review. Motion to approve the Consent Calendar included only items 7A, 7C, 7E, and 7F.
A. CANCELLATION OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2026 B. SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 17.42.170
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS/JUNIOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS OF
THE COTATI MUNICIPAL CODE TO CONFORM TO STATE LAW
C. BIANNUAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST CODE REVIEW
Cotati City Council Minutes September 08, 2026
E. CONSIDERATION AND ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CITY OF COTATI’S 2026 COTATI CANDYLAND EVENT
F. APPROVAL OF 2026 COTATI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OKTOBERFEST EVENT
IN LA PLAZA PARK
RESULT: Adopt [4 TO 0] 7A, 7C, 7E, 7F
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Vice Mayor
SECONDER: Ben Ford, Councilmember
AYES: Lemus, Harvey, Ford, Sparks
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Savage
8. DIRECTION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
None.
9. REGULAR AGENDA (ACTION)
A. QUARTERLY FINANCIAL UPDATE FOR THE UNAUDITED FISCAL YEAR END 2025/26
Presentation by Director of Administrative Services Angela Courter.
Councilmembers discuss.
Public Comment:
Laurie Alderman of Cotati
B. 2026 PRESENTATION ON THE PENSION UNFUNDED ACCRUED LIABILITY,
POLICY COMPLIANCE, AND FUNDED STATUS
Presentation by Director of Administrative Services Angela Courter and Dmitry Semenov of Ridgeline Municipal Strategies.
Councilmembers discuss.
No public comment.
C. APPROVAL OF MEASURE O GRANT AGREEMENT - MOBILE CRISIS TEAM
SUPPORT
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers discuss.
No public comment.
Cotati City Council Minutes September 08, 2026
RESULT: Adopt [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Vice Mayor
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
AYES: Lemus, Harvey, Ford, Sparks
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Savage
D. APPROVAL OF THIRD AMENDED SAFE MEMORANDIUM OF UNDERSTANDING Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers discuss.
No public comment.
RESULT: Adopt [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Susan Harvey, Vice Mayor
SECONDER: Ben Ford, Councilmember
AYES: Lemus, Harvey, Ford, Sparks
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Savage
After the completion of this item, Council took a five-minute recess.
E. UPDATE ON THE LA PLAZA WATER FOUNTAIN
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers discuss.
No public comment.
Council directed Staff to explore options for more seating in the park after the fountain is removed.
F. AWARD OF 2026/2027 PAVEMENT PRESERVATION PROJECT
Presentation by Director of Public Works Craig Scott.
Councilmembers discuss.
No public comment.
RESULT: Adopt [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Ben Ford, Councilmember
SECONDER: Susan Harvey, Vice Mayor
AYES: Lemus, Harvey, Ford, Sparks
NAYS: None
Cotati City Council Minutes September 08, 2026
ABSENT: Savage
7D.
10. 11.
APPROVAL OF CONTRACTS EXCEEDING CITY MANAGER CONTRACTING AUTHORITY – JOHNSTON SIGN COMPANY INC. AND INDEPENDENT
INVESTIGATIVE CONSULTANTS, LLC
Item was pulled from the Consent Calendar by Councilmember Sparks.
Presentation by City Manager Damien O’Bid.
Councilmembers discuss.
No public comment.
Council approved the contracts, and directed Staff to issue an RFP for investigative services for FY 27/28 and beyond.
RESULT: Adopt [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Ben Ford, Councilmember
SECONDER: Laura Sparks, Councilmember
AYES: Lemus, Harvey, Ford, Sparks
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Savage
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. INFORMATION RECEIVED AFTER THE AGENDA WAS POSTED
13. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Lemus adjourned the meeting at 9:12pm.
/s/ Kevin Patterson, City Clerk