NOVATO CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
August 23, 2022 – 6:00 PM
A. CONVENE, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND ROLL CALL
The City Council meeting was called to order at 6:07 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, City Attorney Jeff Walter and City Clerk Laura McDowall
B. CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT
The City Council met in closed session prior to the open session.
C. CEREMONIAL MATTERS/PRESENTATIONS
There were no items listed for this section.
D. APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Athas and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Wernick, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to approve the Final Agenda.
AYES: ATHAS, EKLUND, MILBERG, WERNICK, LUCAN
NOES: NONE
Motion carried.
E. REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL & 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. Lorrie
2. Dante
3. Dovile
4. Catherine
5. Stan Lappen
6. Donn Davy
7. Jason Sarris
8. Janine
9. Paul G
10. Julia Janeway
11. Kevin Morrison
12. Elise Jonas-Delson
13. David Moller
14. Alex Cruz
15. Vicki Sievers
16. Brian Cooley
17. Robert Brown
18. Nicole Gardner
19. Paul G.
20. Meg Brizzolara
21. Piper
G. CONSENT CALENDAR
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember Athas, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to approve the Consent Calendar.
AYES: ATHAS, EKLUND, MILBERG, WERNICK, LUCAN
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 did not have to read ordinances aloud in their entirey.
G.2. Approve the City Council meeting minutes of May 24, 2022 The City Council approved the meeting minutes of May 24, 2022.
G.3. Approve the City Council meeting minutes of June 14, 2022 The City Council approved the meeting minutes of June 14, 2022.
G.4. Adopt a resolution approving and authorizing the Mayor to execute the City of Novato’s response to the June 6, 2022 Marin County Civil Grand Jury report titled, “Electrifying Marin’s Buildings: a Countywide Approach" The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2022-070.
H. UNFINISHED AND OTHER BUSINESS
There were no items listed for this section.
I. PUBLIC HEARINGS
I.1. Homeward Bound of Marin - Workforce & Veteran Housing: hold a public hearing and adopt resolutions finding and determining that no further environmental review is required pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Section 15183 and approving a precise development plan and design review for Homeward Bound of Marin’s Workforce & Veteran Housing project, including 50 residential apartment units and a 10,800 square foot commercial/training kitchen and event building on the parcel south of 1385 Hamilton Parkway, APN 157-970-07
Senior Planner Vivek Damodaran gave the presentation.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Paul Fordham
2. Summer Cassel
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember Athas, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to adopt the resolution finding and determining that no further environmental review is required pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Section 15183
AYES: ATHAS, EKLUND, MILBERG, WERNICK, LUCAN
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2022-071.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Athas and seconded by Councilmember Milberg, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to adopt the resolution approving a precise development plan and design review for Homeward Bound of Marin’s Workforce & Veteran Housing project.
AYES: ATHAS, EKLUND, MILBERG, WERNICK, LUCAN
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2022-072.
I.2. Consider re-introducing and later adopting an ordinance amending Novato Municipal Code Chapter VII, Section 7-13 to prohibit the use of gas-powered leaf blowers, restrict the hours of use for leaf blowers and find the amendment exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to guidelines section 15061(b)(3)
City Attorney Jeff Walter presented the item.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Lisa Longnecker
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Wernick, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to introduce the ordinance amending Novato Municipal Code Chapter VII, Section 7-13 to prohibit the use of gas-powered leaf blowers, restrict the hours of use for leaf blowers and find the amendment exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to guidelines section 15061(b)(3).
AYES: ATHAS, EKLUND, MILBERG, WERNICK, LUCAN
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council introduced Ordinance No. 1690.
I.3. Consider introducing and later adopting an Ordinance amending the definition of “Critical Infrastructure” contained in City Ordinance No. 1669 codified as Novato Municipal Code Section 7-11.2
City Attorney Jeff Walter presented the item.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Regina Bianucci-Rus
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Athas and seconded by Councilmember Milberg, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to introduce the ordinance amending the definition of “Critical Infrastructure” contained in City Ordinance No. 1669 codified as Novato Municipal Code Section 7-11.
AYES: ATHAS, EKLUND, MILBERG, WERNICK, LUCAN
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council introduced Ordinance 1691.
J. GENERAL BUSINESS
J.1. Take action to either:
1) Adopt a resolution appointing nominee Mark Milberg to the District 5 City Council seat; or
2) Decide to continue to hold the November 8, 2022, General Municipal Election for the District 5 seat as called
City Clerk Laura McDowall presented the item, and it was generally felt that Mark Milberg should be appointed to the District 5 seat.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Wernick, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to adopt the resolution appointing nominee Mark Milberg to the District 5 City Council seat.
AYES: ATHAS, EKLUND, MILBERG, WERNICK, LUCAN
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2022-069.
The City Council took a brief recess at 7:45pm and returned at 7:56pm.
K. COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES AND BOARDS (CCB’S) APPOINTMENTS There were no items for this section.
L. WORK STUDY SESSION
L.1. Housing Element Update Workshop: recap of work completed to date, with a focus on the results of community polling and stakeholder interviews, along with a discussion of specific housing sites and draft approach to rezoning.
Housing development pipeline numbers will be presented, along with potential capacity of certain identified rezone sites.
Community and Economic Development Director Vicki Parker opened the item and Lisa Weiss from Lisa Weiss Consulting gave the presentation.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Tim Rode
2. Ed Schulze
3. Laura Giacomini
4. Jerry Ghirado
5. Emily Larsen
6. Karen Andresen
7. Charles Schwarz
M. ADJOURNMENT
At 9:09 pm, the City Council adjourned the meeting in memory of Priscilla Ghirardo, Rosemarie Cavino, Kathrine Hansen, Bill Koenig, Frank McGovern and Vivien Saavedra.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and adopted at the Novato City Council regular meeting of September 27, 2022. /Laura McDowall/
___________________
Laura McDowall
City Clerk