NOVATO CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
March 28, 2023 – 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 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, Public Works Director-City Engineer Chris Blunk, Assistant City Manager Jessica Deakyne, Sustainability Coordinator II Gretchen Schubeck, 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. Proclamation: Citizen of the Year
Citizen of the Year Regina Bianucci-Rus was present to accept the proclamation.
C.2. Proclamation: 2022 Spirit of Novato
Spirit of Novato Award winner Sophia Osotio accepted the proclamation.
C.3. Proclamations: Small, Large and Micro Businesses of the Year Kyle Mastropole from The Bay Fitness, Ann and Mike Roegenbuck from Miann Builders and Anastasia Prior and Angel Minor from Conservation Corp North Bay were present to accept their proclamations.
D. APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember Farac, 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
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
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember O’Connor, 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 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 open and closed session meeting minutes of February 14, 2023
The City Council approved the open and closed session meeting minutes of February 14, 2023.
G.3. Approve the City Council closed session special meeting minutes of February 24, 2023
The City Council approved the closed session special meeting minutes of February 24, 2023.
G.4. Authorize the Mayor to sign a letter of opposition to Senate Bill 423 (Wiener) Streamlined housing approvals: multifamily housing developments: SB 35 (Chapter 366, Statutes of 2017) Expansion in accordance with the League of California Cities Action Alert
The City Council authorized the Mayor to sign the letter.
G.5. Adopt a resolution and authorize the Mayor to sign a letter of opposition to initiative No. 21-0042A1, the Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act., in accordance with the League of California Cities Action Alert
The City Council authorized the Mayor to sign the letter and adopted Resolution No. 2023-023.
H. UNFINISHED AND OTHER BUSINESS
There were no items listed for this section.
I. PUBLIC HEARINGS
I.1. Hold a public hearing and consider introducing an ordinance amending Novato Municipal Code Section 4-1 to implement terms of 3 years for regular and alternate members of the Housing, Zoning and Building Code Appeals Board and adding additional member qualification requirements to serve City Clerk Laura McDowall presented the item.
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 introduce the ordinance amending Novato Municipal Code Section 4-1 to implement terms of 3 years for regular and alternate members of the Housing, Zoning and Building Code Appeals Board and adding additional member qualification requirements to serve
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, O’CONNOR, MILBERG, WERNICK
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council introduced Ordinance 1700.
J. GENERAL BUSINESS
J.1. Receive a presentation on the County of Marin’s model foodware ordinance and provide direction to staff
Sustainability Coordinator Gretchen Schubeck opened the item and Dana Arminio, Planning Manger from the County of Marin gave a presentation. Sustainability Coordinator Schubeck, Planning Manager Arminio, Greg Pirie from the County of Marin and Assistant City Manager Jessica Deakyne responded to Council questions.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Lisa Clarke
2. Rhonda Cutter
3. Janice Renyolds
4. Susan Hop
5. Silke Valentine
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember Farac, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to put the ordinance on a future agenda in order to participate in the County’s program.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, O’CONNOR, MILBERG, WERNICK
NOES: NONE
Motion carried.
The City Council took a brief recess from 7:43 pm – 7:52 pm.
J.2. Receive a presentation regarding the City’s ownership and management of Marin Valley Mobile Country Club (MVMCC) and consider scheduling a workshop study session to identify strategies to support the long-term fiscal sustainability of the park
City Manager Adam McGill opened the item and Public Works Director-City Engineer Chris Blunk gave the presentation. It was clarified that this item was informational only and staff was requesting direction to hold a future workshop to the explore the item further.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Jay Schelfer
2. Carol Joy Harris
3. Anila Manning
It was suggested that a small group of staff work with the Park Acquisition Committee (PAC) and park residents and then hold a study session at the park.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Milberg, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to have a work study session at Marin Valley in July and encourage staff to spend time with the PAC and the residents after June 30th about this issue.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, O’CONNOR, MILBERG, WERNICK
NOES: NONE
Motion carried.
The City Council took a brief recess at 9:12 p.m. and returned at 9:23 p.m.
J.3. Consider providing direction to staff to create a proposed process for creating a new fiscal sustainability plan for council review, discussion and action
City Manager McGill gave a brief presentation, and the City Council discussed the item.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Mayor Pro Tem Milberg and seconded by Councilmember Farac, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to direct staff to create a proposed process in creating a new Fiscal Sustainability Plan for council review, discussion and action in up to 60 days.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, O’CONNOR, MILBERG, WERNICK
NOES: NONE
Motion carried.
J.4. Consider adopting a resolution merging the Multicultural Advisory Commission with the Recreation, Cultural and Community Services Advisory Commission and adopting a resolution dissolving the Novato Streetscape Committee to allow them to become a community-based beautification group, if desired
City Clerk Laura McDowall presented the item and Council discussion ensued.
Concerns were expressed about the changes, and it was generally felt that the Multicultural Advisory Commission should remain a separate body but that the Novato Streetscape Committee should be dissolved to allow them to become a community-based volunteer group. It was suggested the resolution dissolving the Novato Streetscape Committee be updated to show that the effective date of the change would be June 1, 2023.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Rick Hanley
2. Michelle Sheehan
3. Lynn Wasley
4. Sophia Osotio
5. Pam Drew
6. Cliff Jacobs
7. Zach Griggy
8. Sierra Suraci
9. Ginny Hanna
10. Charles Swarze
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember O’Connor, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call that the Multicultural Advisory Commission and the Recreation, Cultural and Community Services Commission not be merged.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, O’CONNOR, MILBERG, WERNICK
NOES: NONE
Motion carried.
COUNCIL ACTION: Motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember O’Connor that staff goes back and talk to the Streetscape Committee, and if they agree with dissolving the Committee bring the item back on consent and if they don’t agree bring the item back as a general business item for discussion.
AYES: EKLUND, O’CONNOR
NOES: FARAC, MILBERG, WERNICK
Motion failed.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Mayor Pro Tem Milberg and seconded by Councilmember Farac, the City Council voted 3-2 via roll call to adopt the resolution dissolving the Novato Streetscape Committee to allow them to become a community-based beautification group, if desired, adding that they dissolve on June 1, 2023, with Councilmember Eklund and Councilmember O’Connor voting No.
AYES: FARAC, MILBERG, WERNICK
NOES: EKLUND, O’CONNOR
Motion carried.
J.5. Consider approving the Sustainability Commission Workplan for Fiscal Year 2022-23
Sustainability Coordinator Schubeck opened the item and Nicole Tai, Sustainability Commission Chair presented the Workplan and responded to Council questions.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember O’Connor, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to approve the workplan.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, O’CONNOR, MILBERG, WERNICK
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
The City Council adjourned the meeting at 11:26 p.m.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and adopted at the Novato City Council regular meeting of April 25, 2023.
/Laura McDowall/
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Laura McDowall, City Clerk