NOVATO CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
April 11, 2023 – 6:00 PM
A. CONVENE, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND ROLL CALL
The City Council meeting was called to order at 6:08 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: Councilmember Tim O’Connor
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Adam McGill, Police Chief Beth Johnson, Community Development Director Vicki Parker, Public Works Director-City Engineer Chris Blunk, Administrative Services Director Amy Cunningham, Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Katie Gauntlett, City Attorney Gary Bell and City Clerk Laura McDowall
B. CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT
The Council met in closed session prior to the open session.
C. CEREMONIAL MATTERS/PRESENTATIONS
C.1. Proclamation: National Public Telecommunicators Week Dispatchers Lisa Boyle and Lauren Guidi along with Police Chief Beth Johnson were present to accept the proclamation.
C.2. Presentation: Marin Clean Energy
Sebastian Conn, Senior Community Development Manager from Marin Clean Energy gave the presentation.
C.3. Police Department Annual Report
Police Chief Beth Johnson gave the report.
D. APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA
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 Final Agenda with Councilmember O’Connor absent AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, MILBERG, WERNICK
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: O’CONNOR
Motion carried.
E. REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL & CITY MANAGER
E.1. Proposed Agenda Item – Councilmember Eklund: Discuss at a May or June 2023 Council meeting entering into an agreement with the Novato Historical Guild to relocate the Novato History Museum to the Simmons House to provide more space, more parking and an ADA compliant museum at no cost to the City of Novato
Councilmember Eklund presented the item.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Patrick MacLeamy
2. Jim Crumpler
3. Jeanne MacLeamy
4. Susan Magnone
5. Gary Bramon
6. Jerry Peters
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 add the item to an agenda in May for discussion and direction, with Councilmember O’Connor absent.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, MILBERG, WERNICK
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: O’CONNOR
Motion carried.
E.2. City Manager and City Council Reports
The City Council gave reports on meetings and events they had attended.
F. PUBLIC COMMENT
1. Carlos Garcia Bedoya
G. CONSENT CALENDAR
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Milberg and seconded by Councilmember Farac, the City Council voted 4-0-1 via roll call to approve the Consent Calendar, with Councilmember O’Connor absent.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, MILBERG, WERNICK
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: O’CONNOR
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 February 28, 2023 The City Council approved the meeting minutes of February 28, 2023.
G.3. Approve the City Council closed session special meeting minutes of March 6, 2023
The City Council approved the closed session special meeting minutes of March 6, 2023.
G.4. Approve the City Council closed and open session meeting minutes of March 14, 2023
The City Council approved the closed and open session meeting minutes of March 14, 2023
G.5. Adopt ordinance 1700 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
The City Council adopted Ordinance 1700.
H. UNFINISHED AND OTHER BUSINESS
There were no items listed for this section.
I. PUBLIC HEARINGS
There were no items for this section
The City Council took a brief recess from 7:26 p.m. to 7:33 p.m.
J. GENERAL BUSINESS
J.1. Conduct a study session regarding development of the Fiscal Year 2023/24 operating and capital budgets and provide initial budget development direction to Staff
Administrative Services Director Amy Cunningham and Public Works Director-City Engineer Chris Blunk gave the presentation. Director Cunningham, Director Blunk, Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Katie Gauntlett and Community Development Director Vicki Parker responded to Council questions, and the City Council gave guidance on budget direction.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
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 9:04 p.m., the City Council adjourned the meeting in memory of Joseph O’Neil and Donald Bielefield.
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