NOVATO CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
March 14, 2023 – 6:00 PM
A. CONVENE, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND ROLL CALL
The City Council meeting was called to order at 6:16 p.m., with Mayor Wernick leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Susan Wernick, Mayor Pro Tempore Mark Milberg, Councilmember Pat Eklund, Councilmember Rachel Farac, and Councilmember Tim O’Connor
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Adam McGill, Administrative Services Director Amy Cunningham, Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Katie Gauntlett, Public Works Director-City Engineer Chris Blunk, 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.
C. CEREMONIAL MATTERS/PRESENTATIONS
C.1. Proclamation: Novato School Fuel
School Fuel Executive Director Susan Mathews, Board President Kate McNear and former Board Member Berta Campos-Anicetti were present to accept the proclamation.
D. APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember O’Connor and seconded by Councilmember Eklund, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to approve the Final Agenda.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, O’CONNOR, MILBERG, WERNICK
NOES: NONE
Motion carried.
E. REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL & CITY MANAGER
E.1. Receive reports from the City Manager and the City Council City Manager McGill reported on various City matters and the City Council gave reports on meetings and events they had attended.
E.2. Proposed Agenda Item - Councilmember O'Connor: Direct staff to create a proposed process for creating a new fiscal sustainability plan for council review, discussion and action
Councilmember O’Connor presented the item and responded to Council questions. Concern was expressed that work on a proposed process for creating a new fiscal sustainability plan may take staff time away from focusing on the audit, however it was generally felt that the item should move forward and be brought back to Council on April 11, 2023.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Farac and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Milberg, the City Council voted 4-1 via roll call to bring the proposed item to Council on April 11th.
AYES: FARAC, O’CONNOR, MILBERG, WERNICK
NOES: EKLUND
Motion carried.
F. PUBLIC COMMENT
1. Jayesh Borgasnka
G. CONSENT CALENDAR
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember Farac, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to approve the Consent Calendar.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, O’CONNOR, MILBERG, WERNICK
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 entirety
G.2. Approve the closed and open session City Council meeting minutes of January 10, 2023
The City Council approved the closed and open session meeting minutes of January 10, 2023.
G.3. Approve the closed and open session City Council meeting minutes of January 24, 2023
The City Council approved the closed and open session meeting minutes of January 24, 2023.
G.4. Adopt ordinance 1698 amending Novato Municipal Code Section 2-11 to update the members’ other service and residency requirements of the Design Review Commission
The City Council adopted Ordinance 1698.
G.5. Adopt ordinance 1699 to reduce the speed limit on Nave Drive from 40 mph to 35 mph from Alameda Del Prado to 600 feet south of Roblar Drive and find this action to be exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3)
The City Council adopted Ordinance 1699.
G.6. Adopt a resolution approving updated records retention schedules and authorizing future updates that have been made, reviewed, and approved by the City’s records management consultant, Gladwell Governmental Services, Inc, to be made with the consent of the Department Head, City Clerk, City Attorney and City Manager without any further action by the City Council
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-014.
G.7. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to approve an increase to the existing contract with Microsoft Office 365 to consolidate several important IT services from different vendors; consolidation will increase the annual Microsoft Office 365 cost to an amount not to exceed $80,000 per year
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-017.
G.8. Adopt a resolution authorizing staff to execute purchase and lease agreements for the replacement of six City fleet vehicles in the amount of $197,430 for four purchased vehicles and a cost of $21,624 per year for two leased vehicles; the estimated total auction & trade-in value of the old units is $67,500
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-016.
G.9. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager or their designee to extend the City’s lease agreement and consultant services agreement with the Marin Museum of Contemporary Art on a month-to-month basis for a period of 6 months until September 30, 2023
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-015.
G.10. Adopt the new updated job description for the Police Records Specialist Supervisor position
The City Council adopted the updated job description.
G.11. Consider and approve a resolution designating Fiscal Year 2019/20 (FY) General Fund unassigned fund balance to Fund 116, Emergency and Disaster Response Fund (EDRF)
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-019.
H. UNFINISHED AND OTHER BUSINESS
There were no items listed for this section.
I. PUBLIC HEARINGS
I.1. Hold a public hearing and adopt a resolution making findings in accordance with California Government Code (CGC) 66477, amending fiscal year 2022/23 budget resolution 2022-065 to appropriate $520,000 of Quimby Park Dedication In-lieu Funds to the Pioneer Park Play Area Upgrades Project (CIP 22-004), authorizing the City Manager to amend the project construction contract to include the replacement of the large playground structure, and making findings of exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, Existing Facilities Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Katie Gauntlett presented the item.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember Farac, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to adopt the resolution making findings in accordance with California Government Code (CGC) 66477, amending fiscal year 2022/23 budget resolution 2022-065 to appropriate $520,000 of Quimby Park Dedication In-lieu Funds to the Pioneer Park Play Area Upgrades Project (CIP 22-004), authorizing the City Manager to amend the project construction contract to include the replacement of the large playground structure, and making findings of exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, Existing Facilities.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, O’CONNOR, MILBERG, WERNICK
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-018.
J. GENERAL BUSINESS
J.1. Consider and possibly adopt a resolution approving a request from Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco to provide grant funding not to exceed $350,000, from the City’s affordable housing program fund (210) to be used for payment of development impact fees, as well as waivers of the Residential Development Tax, the Affordable Housing In Lieu fee, the Public Art In Lieu Fee and the Open space fee and 100% reduction of the Park Dedication & Quimby fee for an 80-unit, affordable residential project, subject to execution of regulatory agreements ensuring affordability levels as required in the project entitlements and authorizing the City Manager to enter into any funding agreements relating thereto
Community Development Director Vicki Parker presented the item and Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco CEO Maureen Sedonaen responded to Council questions. It was suggested that the project’s final map include open space easements, which staff clarified was standard practice.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Milberg, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to adopt the resolution approving a request from Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco to provide grant funding not to exceed $350,000, from the City’s affordable housing program fund (210) to be used for payment of development impact fees, as well as waivers of the Residential Development Tax, the Affordable Housing In Lieu fee, the Public Art In Lieu Fee and the Open space fee and 100% reduction of the Park Dedication & Quimby fee for an 80-unit, affordable residential project, subject to execution of regulatory agreements ensuring affordability levels as required in the project entitlements and authorizing the City Manager to enter into any funding agreements relating thereto, with the direction that the project’s final map will include an open space easement over these areas.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, O’CONNOR, MILBERG, WERNICK
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-2020.
The City Council took a recess between 7:39pm – 7:44pm.
J.2. Consider adopting a resolution amending the City of Novato Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2022/23 and direct the City Manager to take actions necessary to enact approved budget modifications
Administrative Services Director Amy Cunningham gave the presentation and Director Cunningham and Public Works Director-City Engineer Chris Blunk responded to Council questions.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Mayor Pro Tem Milberg and seconded by Councilmember O’Connor, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to adopt the resolution amending the City of Novato Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2022/23 and directed the City Manager to take actions necessary to enact approved budget modifications.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, O’CONNOR, MILBERG, WERNICK
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-021.
J.3. Consider, discuss, and provide direction to staff on potential Fiscal Year 2023/24 budget initiatives as directed by the City Council at their February 14, 2023, meeting
Administrative Services Director Cunningham opened the item and Council discussed potential budget initiatives. No direction was given.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
J.4. Consider, review, assign, and/or reassign City Council members to serve on various regional, state, and local commissions, committees and boards Staff contact: Laura McDowall, City Clerk, 899-8900
City Clerk Laura McDowall opened the item. Both Councilmember Eklund and Councilmember Farac showed interest in being appointed to the Transpiration Authority of Marin seat and Council discussion ensued, however it was generally felt that Councilmember Farac should be appointed to the seat.
There was consensus on the remaining appointments, to remove the Marin County Council of Mayors and Councilmembers Economic Recovery Ad Hoc Committee from the list, to dissolve the City Council Finance Ad Hoc Committee, to dissolve the City Council Ad Hoc Committee on Homelessness and to add the Permit Process Subcommittee back to the list and mark it “On Hiatus.” PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember O’Connor and seconded by Councilmember Farac, the City Council voted 3-2 via roll call to appoint Councilmember Farac as the representative to the Transportation Authority of Marin, with Councilmember Eklund and Mayor Wernick voting no.
AYES: FARAC, O’CONNOR, MILBERG
NOES: EKLUND, WERNICK
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 9:12pm, the City Council adjourned the meeting in memory of Margie Roseman.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and adopted at the Novato City Council regular meeting of April 11, 2023.
/Laura McDowall/
___________________
Laura McDowall, City Clerk