NOVATO CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
September 13, 2022 – 6:00 PM
A. CONVENE, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND ROLL CALL
The City Council meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m., with Mayor Lucan leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Eric Lucan, Mayor Pro Tempore Susan Wernick, Councilmember Pat Eklund, and Councilmember Mark Milberg COUNCIL ABSENT: Councilmember Denise Athas
STAFF PRESENT: Assistant City Manager Jessica Deakyne, Community and Economic Development Director Vicki Parker, Planning and Environmental Services Manager Steve Marshall, Assistant City Attorney Gary Bell and City Clerk Laura McDowall
B. CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT
There was no closed session.
C. CEREMONIAL MATTERS/PRESENTATIONS
D. APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Wernick, the City Council voted 4-0-1 via roll call to approve the Final Agenda, with Councilmember Athas absent.
AYES: EKLUND, MILBERG, WERNICK, LUCAN
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: ATHAS
Motion carried.
E. REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL & CITY MANAGER
Assistant City Manager Jessica Deakyne reported on various City matters and the City Council gave reports on meetings and events they had attended.
F. PUBLIC COMMENT
1. Janine Pera
2. Sangita Moskor
3. Jeffrey Piccarilo
4. Paul G.
5. Alex de la Cruz
G. CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember Eklund announced that she would like to pull item G.6 from the Consent Calendar and place it under General Business.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Wernick, the City Council voted 4-0-1 via roll call with Councilmember Athas absent to approve the Consent Calendar, with item G.6 removed and place under General Business.
AYES: EKLUND, MILBERG, WERNICK, LUCAN
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: ATHAS
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 entirety
G.2. Approve the City Council meeting minutes of June 28, 2022 The City Council approved the meeting minutes of June 28, 2022.
G.3. Approve the City Council meeting minutes of July 12, 2022 The City Council approved the meeting minutes of July 12, 2022.
G.4. Adopt Ordinance 1690 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)
The City Council adopted Ordinance 1690.
G.5. Adopt Ordinance 1691 amending Novato Municipal Code Section 7-11.2 to change the definition of “Critical Infrastructure”
The City Council adopted Ordinance 1691.
G.6. Adopt a resolution approving and authorizing the Mayor to execute the City of Novato’s response to the June 24, 2022 Marin County Civil Grand Jury report titled, “Affordable Housing: Time for Collaboration in Marin" This item was removed from the Consent Calendar and placed under General Business.
G.7. Adopt a resolution to accept a $113,000 Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and revise appropriations and revenues to recognize the grant funding from OTS; authorize the City Manager to execute grant related operating budget adjustments; and authorize the Police Department to utilize the grant to continue its education and enforcement of traffic related laws to reduce injury and fatal traffic collisions
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2022-075.
G.8. Adopt a resolution supporting the Digital Marin Strategic Plan The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2022-074.
G.9. 1) Adopt a job description for a Homeless Outreach Specialist; 2) Adopt a salary for the Homeless Outreach Specialist classification; and 3) Adopt the updated salary schedule for Fiscal year 2022-23 adding a limited term position of Homeless Outreach Specialist
The City Council adopted the job description, salary and updated salary schedule.
H. UNFINISHED AND OTHER BUSINESS
There were no items listed for this section.
I. PUBLIC HEARINGS
There were no items for this section
J. GENERAL BUSINESS
J.1. Discuss and provide direction regarding amending Novato Municipal Code Division 19.38 to establish permanent regulations for small cell wireless facilities and eligible facilities requests and update the same for macrocell wireless installations
Assistant City Attorney Gary Bell presented the item. Assistant City Attorney Bell, Community and Economic Development Director Vicki Parker, and Planning and Environmental Services Manager Steve Marshall responded to Council questions.
The City Council took a brief recess at 6:41 p.m. due to an earthquake alert and reconvened at 6:54 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Amber Yang
2. Steve Glanz
3. Piper
4. Keith Ural
5. Jeffrey Piccarilo
6. Paul G.
7. Sangita Moskor
8. Alex de la Cruz
The City Council gave direction to staff on the ordinance, which would return to Council at a future meeting.
G.6. Adopt a resolution approving and authorizing the Mayor to execute the City of Novato’s response to the June 24, 2022 Marin County Civil Grand Jury report titled, “Affordable Housing: Time for Collaboration in Marin" This item was removed from the Consent Calendar and placed under General Business. Councilmember Eklund explained that she pulled the item because she was opposed to creating a subregion in Marin and requested that sentence be removed from the City’s response.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Paul G.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Wernick, the City Council voted 4-0-1 via roll call with Councilmember Athas absent to adopt the resolution approving the response, with that sentence removed.
AYES: EKLUND, MILBERG, WERNICK, LUCAN
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: ATHAS
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2022-073.
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 9:38pm, the City Council adjourned the meeting in memory of Queen Elizabeth II.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and adopted at the Novato City Council regular meeting of October 25, 2022. /Laura McDowall/
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Laura McDowall, City Clerk