NOVATO CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
February 14, 2023 – 6:00 PM
A. CONVENE, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND ROLL CALL
The City Council meeting was called to order at 6:05 p.m., with Mayor Wernick leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Susan Wernick, Mayor Pro Tempore Mark Milberg, Councilmember Pat Eklund, and Councilmember Rachel Farac COUNCIL ABSENT: District 3 Vacant
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Adam McGill, Principal Management Analyst Sullina Sanchez, City Attorney Gary Bell and City Clerk Laura McDowall B. CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT
The City Council met in closed session prior to the open session. There was nothing to report out.
C. CEREMONIAL MATTERS/PRESENTATIONS
C.1. Presentation: Homeless Update
Principal Management Analyst Sullina Sanchez opened the item and introduced Gary Naja-Riese, Director of Homelessness and Whole Person Care from the County of Marin who gave the presentation.
D. APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA
It was suggested that the agenda be reordered to take item J.2 before item J.1.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Mayor Wernick, the City Council voted 4-0-1 via roll call to approve the Final Agenda with item J.2 taken before item J.1.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, MILBERG, WERNICK
NOES: NONE
VACANT: DISTRICT 3
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
None
G. CONSENT CALENDAR
It was announced that items G.6, G.8 and G.9 would be pulled from the Consent Calendar and placed under General Business.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Mayor Pro Tem Milberg and seconded by Councilmember Eklund, the City Council voted 4-0-1 via roll call to approve the Consent Calendar with items G.6, G.8 and G.9 pulled from the Consent Calendar and placed under General Business.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, MILBERG, WERNICK
NOES: NONE
VACANT: DISTRICT 3
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 in their entirety
G.2. Approve the closed and open session City Council meeting minutes of December 6, 2022
The City Council approved the closed and open session meeting minutes of December 6, 2022.
G.3. Approve the City Council meeting minutes of December 13, 2022 The City Council approved the meeting minutes of December 13, 2022.
G.4. Adopt Ordinance 1697 repealing and reenacting Appendix A to Section 2-
22.1 of the Novato Municipal Code relating to the Conflict-of-Interest Code to add the Housing and Homeless Committee and update the name of the Finance Advisory Commission
The City Council adopted Ordinance 1697.
G.5. Receive and file the City of Novato’s second quarter payment register, purchase order report, and travel expense report for months of October, November, and December 2022
The City Council received and filed the reports.
G.6. Approve the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023/24 budget calendar listing public meeting dates for the upcoming budget development process
This item was removed from the Consent Calendar and placed under General Business.
G.7. Receive and file Quarter 2 budget report for Fiscal Year 2022/2023 The City Council received and filed the reports.
G.8. Adopt a resolution to approve a revised investment policy This item was removed from the Consent Calendar and placed under General Business.
G.9. Receive and file the list of upcoming and to be determined City Council agenda items for the first quarter of 2023
This item was removed from the Consent Calendar and placed under General Business.
G.10. Adopt a resolution authorizing staff to proceed with the right-of-way acquisition process for the Novato Boulevard Improvement Project, CIP #01- 004
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-009.
G.11. Adopt a resolution awarding the professional services contract for the Parks Master Plan in the total amount of $246,146 to Berry, Dunn, McNeil & Parker, LLC as the consultant selected from the Request for Proposals received November 21, 2022 and authorize the City Manager to execute the contract The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-007.
G.12. Approve the use of the City of Novato logo by the public-private, non-profit organization MarinCAN
The City Council approved the use of the City of Novato logo by MarinCAN.
G.13. Authorize the City Manager to execute the seventh amendment to Consultant Service Agreement #4806 with Underwood and Rosenblum Inc. in an amount not to exceed $10,600
The City Council authorized the City Manager to execute the amendment.
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
The agenda was reordered to take item J.2 before item J.1.
J.2. Hold interviews of applicants for the vacant City Council seat for District 3 and possibly appoint, direct the City Clerk to administer the Oath of Office and seat an eligible person to serve as Councilmember to fill the seat until an eligible person is elected at the City’s next general election to be held on November 5, 2024, and sworn into office
City Clerk Laura McDowall presented the item and explained that City Council Candidate Martin Freedman had withdrawn from consideration. The City Council interviewed the following candidates: Christina Heartquist, Chuck McBride, Tim O’Connor and Amy Ziegler.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Jeff Shankle
2. Sophia Osotio
3. Coree Cameron
Councilmember Farac and Mayor Pro Tem Milberg left the dais at 7:25pm and returned at 7:26pm.
The Council thanked all the candidates who applied, and it was generally felt that Tim O’Connor should be appointed to fill the vacant District 3 seat, however Councilmember Eklund stated for the record that while she would agree with the motion to appoint Mr. O’Connor, she supported City Council Candidate Chuck McBride.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Mayor Wernick and seconded by Councilmember Farac, the City Council voted 4-0-1 via roll call to appoint Tim O’Connor to the District 3 seat, and directed the City Clerk to administer the oath of office to Mr. O’Connor on February 15, 2023.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, MILBERG, WERNICK
NOES: NONE
VACANT: DISTRICT 3
Motion carried.
The City Council took a brief recess at 8:25pm and returned at 8:34pm.
J.1. Consider adopting a resolution accepting the Novato Economic Development Advisory Commission Work Plan for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Principal Management Analyst Sanchez presented the item and responded to Council questions.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
Council gave feedback on updates to the workplan and requested it come back at a future meeting for approval.
G.6. Approve the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023/24 budget calendar listing public meeting dates for the upcoming budget development process
Councilmember Eklund explained that she pulled this item off the Consent Calendar because she would like to add an additional discussion item to the calendar which would be brought before the City Council on March 14, 2023.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember Farac, the City Council voted 4-0-1 via roll call to approve the calendar with the addition of bringing an item on March 14, 2023.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, MILBERG, WERNICK
NOES: NONE
VACANT: DISTRICT 3
Motion carried.
G.8. Adopt a resolution to approve a revised investment policy Mayor Wernick explained that she pulled this item off consent because she wanted to add that requests to purchase securities beyond the five-year limitation in the policy must be and reviewed by the City’s independent investment advisory firm prior to approval by City Council. It was also suggested that staff to add page numbers to the document.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Mayor Wernick, the City Council voted 4-0-1 via roll call to approve the resolution with the changes.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, MILBERG, WERNICK
NOES: NONE
VACANT: DISTRICT 3
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution 2023-008.
G.9. Receive and file the list of upcoming and to be determined City Council agenda items for the first quarter of 2023
Councilmember Eklund explained that she pulled this item from the Consent Calendar to request that the Novato Theater Agreement item with was listed on Consent for the meeting of February 28, 2023 be placed under General Business.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Milberg, the City Council voted 4-0-1 via roll call to receive and file the list with the change to move the Novato Theater Agreement item to General Business on February 28, 2023.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, MILBERG, WERNICK
NOES: NONE
VACANT: DISTRICT 3
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 9:34pm, the City Council adjourned the meeting in memory of Joseph O’Neil.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and adopted at the Novato City Council regular meeting of March 28, 2023.
/Laura McDowall/
___________________
Laura McDowall
City Clerk