City Council
MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, January 11, 2022
6:00 PM
Teleconference via Zoom
A. CONVENE, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND ROLL CALL
The City Council meeting was called to order at 6:01 p.m., with Mayor Lucan leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Eric Lucan, Mayor Pro Tempore Susan Wernick, Councilmember Denise Athas, Councilmember Pat Eklund and Councilmember Mark Milberg
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Adam McGill, Community and Economic Development Director Vicki Parker, Public Works Director-City Engineer Chris Blunk, Planning and Environmental Services Manager Steve Marshall, Senior Planner Brett Walker, Planner II Vivek Damodaran, Assistant City Attorney Ryan Reed and City Clerk Laura McDowall
B. APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA & TELECONFERENCE MEETING
AUTHORIZATION
B.1. Adopt a resolution authorizing continued remote teleconference meetings of the City Council and the City’s Commissions, Committees and Boards pursuant to government code section 54953(e)
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember Athas, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to approve the Final Agenda and adopt a resolution authorizing continued remote teleconference meetings of the City Council and the City’s Commissions, Committees and Boards pursuant to government code section 54953(e).
AYES: ATHAS, MILBERG, WERNICK, LUCAN, EKLUND
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2022-007.
C. CEREMONIAL MATTERS/PRESENTATIONS
C.1. Proclamation: Recognizing Chief Matt McCaffrey Upon his Retirement Matt McCaffrey was present to accept the proclamation.
D. CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT
There was no closed session.
E. REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL & CITY MANAGER
E.1. City Council Subcommittee on Homelessness Report Out There was no report out.
E.2. Reports from the City Council and the City Manager City Manager McGill reported on various City matters and the City Council gave reports on meetings and events they had attended.
F. PUBLIC COMMENT
1. Melanie Swanson
2. Nancy Abruzzo
G. CONSENT CALENDAR
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Athas and seconded by Councilmember Eklund, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to approve the Consent Calendar.
AYES: ATHAS, MILBERG, WERNICK, LUCAN, EKLUND
NOES: NONE
Motion carried.
G.1. Waive reading and authorize introductions and/or adoption of ordinances by title only This was a standard procedural action so that the City Council does not have to read an ordinance in its entirety
G.2. Approve the closed and open session City Council meeting minutes of November 9, 2021
The City Council approved the closed and open session City Council meeting minutes of November 9, 2021.
G.3. Approve the City Council meeting minutes of November 16, 2021 The City Council approved the meeting minutes of November 16, 2021.
G.4. Approve the open and closed session City Council meeting minutes of December 14, 2021
The City Council approved the open and closed session meeting minutes of December 14, 2021.
G.5. Approve the location of Marin-Sonoma Bike Share Program station hubs within the City of Novato Right-of-Way
The City Council approved the locations of the Marin-Sonoma Bike Share Program station hubs.
G.6. Review and accept the 2021 Annual Report from the Novato Street Improvement Oversight Advisory Committee (SIOAC)
The City Council accepted the report.
G.7. Adopt a resolution establishing the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Local Assistance Procedures Manual (LAPM) Chapter 10 - Consultant Selection as the City’s procedure to procure certain consultant and professional services for state and federal funded Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Projects
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2022-002.
G.8. Adopt a resolution of the City Council of the City of Novato authorizing the update of the City of Novato salary schedule for Fiscal Year 2021-22 The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2022-001.
G.9. Adopt a resolution approving the positions and identifying the persons who serve as trustees for the City of Novato deferred compensation plan American Funds
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2022-003
H. UNFINISHED AND OTHER BUSINESS
There were no items listed for this section.
I. PUBLIC HEARINGS
I.1. Conduct a public hearing and introduce an ordinance amending Chapter XIX (Zoning) of the Novato Municipal Code involving the repeal and replacement of Sections 19.34.030 (Accessory Dwelling Units) and 19.34.031 (Junior Accessory Dwelling Units) and modifying sections of the Zoning Ordinance listed below as required to comply with California Government Code Sections 65852.2 and 65852.22 and finding the amendments to be exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15282(h). Other Zoning Ordinance sections referenced to accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units recommended to be amended:
19.08.030 (Agricultural and Resource Zoning District Land Uses and Permit Requirements)
19.12.030 (Commercial Industrial District Land Uses and Permit Requirements)
19.14.040 (Special Purpose District General Development Standards) 19.16.070 (Affordable Housing Opportunity (AHO) Overlay District) 19.20.100 (Setback Requirements and Exceptions)
19.24.020 (Affordable Units or Fee Required)
19.26.050 (Hillside Project Development Standards)
19.30.040 (Number of Parking Spaces Required)
19.60.020 (Definitions of Specialized Terms and Phrases) Planner II Vivek Damodaran, Planning and Environmental Services Manager Steve Marshall and Community and Economic Development Director Vicki Parker presented the item and responded to Council questions. Staff clarified that there was a typo on page 25 of the ordinance in which the words ‘Required Parking’ were erroneously struck out, and that the motion to introduce the ordinance should include this correction.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Nina Zhito
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember Athas, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to introduce the ordinance amending Chapter XIX (Zoning) of the Novato Municipal Code involving the repeal and replacement of Sections 19.34.030 (Accessory Dwelling Units) and 19.34.031 (Junior Accessory Dwelling Units) and modifying sections of the Zoning Ordinance listed as required to comply with California Government Code Sections 65852.2 and 65852.22 and finding the amendments to be exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15282(h), with the correction to page 25.
AYES: ATHAS, MILBERG, WERNICK, LUCAN, EKLUND
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council introduced Ordinance 1676.
I.2. Habitat Redwood Blvd: hold a public hearing to consider (1) adopting a CEQA Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration; (2) approving a general plan map amendment for a 13±-acre area from Business and Professional Office (BPO) to Medium Density Multiple-Family Residential (R10) and general plan text amendments; (3) introducing an ordinance approving a master plan, precise development plan, design review, and a density bonus; and (4) adopting a resolution to approve a vesting tentative map for a development including 80 residential units and a 2,200± square-foot office building located at 8161 Redwood Blvd, APN 125-180-49
Senior Planner Brett Walker opened the item and introduced Maureen Sedonaen and Doug Fowler from Habitat for Humanity and Chris Dorman from Dorman Associates who presented the proposed project.
It was suggested that Condition of Approval 101 be added to Exhibit A of the resolution approving the Vesting Tentative Map to read “The applicant, or any successor in interest to the project, shall record a deed disclosure against each residential unit in the project disclosing that commercial and industrial land uses are located adjacent to the project site and that there is the potential for nuisance conditions, including noise, associated those uses.”
General direction was given for staff to return to Council at a future date regarding potential fee waivers and/or reductions.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember Athas the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to adopt a resolution adopting a CEQA Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration.
AYES: ATHAS, MILBERG, WERNICK, LUCAN, EKLUND
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2022-004.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Athas and seconded by Councilmember Milberg the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to adopt a resolution approving a general plan map amendment for a 13±-acre area from Business and Professional Office (BPO) to Medium Density MultipleFamily Residential (R10) and general plan text amendments.
AYES: ATHAS, MILBERG, WERNICK, LUCAN, EKLUND
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2022-005.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember Athas, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to introduce an ordinance approving a master plan, precise development plan, design review, and density bonus.
AYES: ATHAS, MILBERG, WERNICK, LUCAN, EKLUND
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council introduced Ordinance 1677.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember Milberg the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to adopt a resolution to approve a vesting tentative map for a development including 80 residential units and a 2,200± square-foot office building located at 8161 Redwood Blvd, APN 125-180-49, with Condition of Approval 101 added to Exhibit A.
AYES: ATHAS, MILBERG, WERNICK, LUCAN, EKLUND
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2022-006.
The City Council took a brief recess at 8:55 p.m. and returned at 9:05 p.m.
J. GENERAL BUSINESS
J.1. Receive the Novato Chamber of Commerce Tourism Report for 2021 and the 2022 Tourism budget
City Manager Adam McGill opened the item and Coy Smith from the Chamber of Commerce, Garrett Grialou from the Reneson Hotels and Michael Vaccaro from Courtyard by Marriott gave the report.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
J.2. Consider, review, assign, and/or reassign City Council members to serve on various regional, state, and local commissions, committees and boards City Clerk Laura McDowall presented the item and the City Council made assignments to the various committees.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember Athas, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to adopt the assignments as discussed.
AYES: ATHAS, MILBERG, WERNICK, LUCAN, EKLUND
NOES: NONE
Motion carried.
K. COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES AND BOARDS (CCB’S) APPOINTMENTS There were no items for this section.
L. WORK STUDY SESSION
There were no items for this section
M. ADJOURNMENT
At 10:15 p.m. the City Council adjourned the meeting in memory of Pat U’ren, Stacy Hodges and Lester Carlson.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and adopted at the Novato City Council regular meeting of January 25, 2022. /Laura McDowall/
___________________
Laura McDowall
City Clerk