NOVATO CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
May 9, 2023 – 6:00 PM
A. CONVENE, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND ROLL CALL
The City Council meeting was called to order at 6:02 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, Assistant City Manager Jessica Deakyne, Community Development Director Vicki Parker, Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Katie Gauntlett, Lieutenant Sophia Winter, Lieutenant Mike Howard, Accountant Analyst Christina Soares, 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: National Police Week
Captain Jim Correa, Lieutenant Sophia Winter, Lieutenant Mike Howard, Records Supervisor Leslie Turner, and members of the Novato Police Department were present to accept the proclamation.
C.2. Proclamation: Jewish American Heritage Month
Barry Sovel from the Jewish Community Relations Council accepted the proclamation.
C.3. Proclamation: Mental Health Awareness Month
Cris Christensen and Carol Harris from Kaiser Permanente were present to accept.
D. APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Mayor Pro Tem Milberg 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. Proposed Agenda Item - Councilmember Farac: Supporting the submission of the Better Cities for Pets application
Councilmember Farac presented the item and received unanimous support to bring it back at a future meeting.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Heather Bowker
2. Robin Moyle Rhodie
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Farac and seconded by Councilmember Eklund, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to bring the item back at an upcoming meeting.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, O’CONNOR, MILBERG, WERNICK
NOES: NONE
Motion carried.
E.2. 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.
F. PUBLIC COMMENT
1. Paula Neese
2. Sang Hametra
3. Larry Thoms
G. CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember Eklund announced she would be abstaining from item G.4 due to the proximity of the project to real property that she owned.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember O’Connor and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Milberg, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to approve the Consent Calendar, with Councilmember Eklund abstaining from item G.4.
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. Adopt ordinance 1701 amending Chapter VII, Section 7-6 of the Novato Municipal Code relating to foodware requirements, and finding the amendments exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to guidelines section 15061(b)(3)
The City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1701.
G.3. Adopt ordinance 1702 amending Novato Municipal Code Chapter XIX (Zoning), Article 3, Subsection 19.52.022.H., Destruction of a Nonconforming Gas Station, and finding the amendments exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15302 and 15305
The City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1702.
G.4. Adopt a resolution establishing All-Way Stop Sign traffic controls at the intersection of Oak Grove Drive and Elmview Way
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-032.
G.5. Adopt a resolution to submit to the California Transportation Commission a list of approved capital improvement projects that are eligible for state Roadway Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account funding for Fiscal Year 2023/24.
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2032-033.
G.6. Adopt a resolution authorizing participation in the National Opioid Settlement, directing funds to the County of Marin to administer and authorizing the City Manager or designee to execute the related participation agreements
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-034.
G.7. Adopt a resolution establishing a Fire Mitigation Ranger Program consisting of one full-time police officer and one half-time retired annuitant housed in the Novato Police Department, with funding provided by the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority via the Novato Fire Protection District; authorizing the City Manager or his designee to sign the MOU/JPA; and revising the budget appropriations as needed
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-035.
H. UNFINISHED AND OTHER BUSINESS
There were no items listed for this section.
I. PUBLIC HEARINGS
I.1. Hold a Public Hearing and introduce an ordinance adopting a policy for the use of Military Equipment by the Novato Police Department pursuant to California Assembly Bill 481
Lieutenant Sophia Winter and Lieutenant Mike Howard gave the presentation.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Eva
2. Meg
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember Farac, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to introduce the ordinance adopting a policy for the use of Military Equipment by the Novato Police Department pursuant to California Assembly Bill 481.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, O’CONNOR, MILBERG, WERNICK
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council introduced Ordinance No. 1703.
J. GENERAL BUSINESS
J.1. Consideration, discussion, and potential direction to staff regarding a proposal by the Novato Historical Guild to relocate the Novato History Museum to the Simmons House
Councilmember Eklund explained that after the posting of the agenda there was great interest from the community on the item, and that the Novato Historical Guild had formally withdrawn their request to use the Simmons House and had instead expressed interest in moving the Museum to the Scott House. It was clarified that any action regarding relocating the Museum to the Scott House would need to return at a future meeting.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Josh Chassman
2. Dominic Rossi
3. Henry Hautau
4. Roland Underhill
5. Steve Jordan
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember O’Connor, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to direct staff not to proceed with the Simmons House for the Novato Historical Guild but to instead direct staff to explore other options including the Scott House and come back at the next council meeting to have this discussion and also to get a presentation from the Historical Guild on their proposal for the Scott House.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, O’CONNOR, MILBERG, WERNICK
NOES: NONE
Motion carried.
The City Council took a brief recess between 7:35pm -7:44pm J.2. Consideration, discussion, and potential direction to staff on a proposed process for creating a new fiscal sustainability plan, staffing study, and other studies for council review, discussion and action City Manager Adam McGill opened the item and responded to Council questions.
It was clarified that the Council would be participating in an upcoming strategic planning session which could include a further discussion of this topic. It was generally felt that an examination of City-owned properties should be taken first, and that further discussion on the other items could occur at the strategic planning session.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember O’Connor and seconded by Councilmember Farac, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to direct Staff to examine and analyze all City property with the view to understanding the optimum way to utilize those for the benefit of the entire community; this can be done incrementally but should start with the most valuable City-owned property.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, O’CONNOR, MILBERG, WERNICK
NOES: NONE
Motion carried.
The City Council took a brief recess at 8:37pm and returned at 8:43pm.
K. COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES AND BOARDS (CCB’S) APPOINTMENTS There were no items for this section.
L. WORK STUDY SESSION
L.1. Receive and consider a preliminary overview of the Fiscal Year 2023/2024 Operating and Capital Budgets and provide additional budget development direction to Staff
Administrative Services Director Amy Cunningham, Public Works Director-City Engineer Chris Blunk and Accountant Analyst Christina Soares presented the item and responded to Council questions along with City Manager McGill, Assistant City Manager Jessica Deakyne, Community Development Director Vicki Parker, Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Katie Gauntlett and City Clerk Laura McDowall.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Carol Joy Harris
2. Bill Davis
3. John Hansen
4. John Shelfer
The City Council took a recess from 10:13pm – 10:21pm and provided feedback and direction to Staff on the development of the budget.
M. ADJOURNMENT
The City Council adjourned the meeting at 11:48 pm.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and adopted at the Novato City Council regular meeting of June 13, 2023.
/Laura McDowall/
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Laura McDowall, City Clerk