NOVATO CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
July 11, 2023 – 6:00 PM
A. CONVENE, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND ROLL CALL
The City Council meeting was called to order at 6:01 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, Community Development Director Vicki Parker, Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Katie Gauntlett, Interim Public Works Manager Kate Whan, City Attorney Gary Bell and City Clerk Laura McDowall
B. CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT
A closed session was held prior to and upon adjournment of the open session; see separate closed session minutes.
C. CEREMONIAL MATTERS/PRESENTATIONS
C.1. Recognition - Fourth of July Parade Winners
Shawna McNulty and Jennifer Goldfinger of the Fourth of July Parade Committee joined the City Council to present the awards.
C.2. Proclamation - Parks and Recreation Month
Recreation, Cultural and Community Services Advisory Commission members Eric Lacey and Nancy Weber accepted the proclamation.
D. APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Farac and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Milberg, 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 - Mayor Wernick: Direct the City Attorney to review and recommend updates to the City Council Policy Manual and dissolve the Council Policy Manual Ad Hoc Committee created to address this task
Mayor Wernick presented the item and responded to Council questions.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Pam Drew
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Farac and
seconded by Councilmember O’Connor, the City Council voted 4-1 via roll call to bring this item back at a future agenda, with Councilmember Eklund voting no.
AYES: FARAC, O’CONNOR, MILBERG, WERNICK
NOES: EKLUND
Motion carried.
E.2. Proposed Agenda Item - Councilmember Farac: Proposal for staff to examine opportunities to reduce blighted buildings and create a fee program for registering vacant/abandoned buildings
Councilmember Farac presented the item.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Harry Thomas
2. Roland Karste
3. Steven Summers
It was generally felt that this should be brought up during the City Council Strategic Planning Workshops scheduled for August 4 and August 5, 2023.
E.3. City Manager and City Council Reports
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
Mayor Pro Tem Milberg announced he would be abstaining from item G.2 because he was not present at the meeting.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Milberg, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to approve the Consent Calendar with Mayor Pro Tem Milberg abstaining from item G.2.
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 closed and open session meeting minutes of May 23, 2023 The City Council approved the closed and open session meeting minutes of May 23, 2023.
G.3. Approve the City Council meeting minutes of June 13, 2023 The City Council approved the meeting minutes of June 13, 2023.
G.4. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a three-year contract with Rise Housing Solutions for administration of the City’s below market rate housing program, including monitoring of affordable rental units, and sales, resales and refinancing of deed restricted for-sale units in an amount not to exceed $549,575 for fiscal years 2023-2026 The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-062.
G.5. Adopt a resolution approving the new position of Police Technical Services Supervisor and approve the job description and associated salary schedule The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-067.
G.6. Adopt a resolution ratifying the City Manager’s appointment of Chris DeGabriele, a Retired Annuitant, as Interim Public Works Director The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-068.
G.7. Adopt a resolution ratifying the City Manager’s appointment of Kate Whan, a Retired Annuitant, as Interim Public Works Administrative Manager The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-069.
H. UNFINISHED AND OTHER BUSINESS
There were no items listed for this section.
I. PUBLIC HEARINGS
I.1. Hold a public hearing and consider adopting a resolution confirming the diagram and assessment roll for the Hillside Park Unit 4 Landscape Assessment District as set forth in the annual report of the Engineer of Work and thereby levy the assessment as set forth therein for Fiscal Year 2023/24.
CEQA: categorically exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the City of Novato Environmental Review Guidelines pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, Existing Facilities
Interim Public Works Manager Kate Whan gave a presentation for items I.1, I.3 and I.4 together and responded to Council questions.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Tim O’Connell
2. Roland Karste
3. Michael Grossman
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember O’Connor, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to adopt the resolution confirming the diagram and assessment roll for the Hillside Park Unit 4 Landscape Assessment District as set forth in the annual report of the Engineer of Work and thereby levy the assessment as set forth therein for Fiscal Year 2023/24.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, O’CONNOR, MILBERG, WERNICK
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-063.
I.3. Hold a public hearing and consider adopting a resolution confirming the diagram and assessment roll as set forth in the annual report of the Engineer of Work for the San Pablo Subdivision Landscape District A-03 and thereby levy the assessment as set forth therein for Fiscal Year 2023/24.
CEQA: exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the City of Novato Environmental Review Guidelines pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, Existing Facilities Interim Public Works Manager Kate Whan gave a presentation for items I.1, I.3 and I.4 together 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 adopt the resolution confirming the diagram and assessment roll as set forth in the annual report of the Engineer of Work for the San Pablo Subdivision Landscape District A-03 and thereby levy the assessment as set forth therein for Fiscal Year 2023/24.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, O’CONNOR, MILBERG, WERNICK
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-065.
I.4. Hold a public hearing and consider adopting a resolution confirming the diagram and assessment roll for the Wildwood Glen Landscaping District C91as set forth in the annual report of the Engineer of Work and thereby levy the assessment as set forth therein for Fiscal Year 2023/24. CEQA: exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the City of Novato Environmental Review Guidelines pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, Existing Facilities
Interim Public Works Manager Kate Whan gave a presentation for items I.1, I.3 and I.4 together and responded to Council questions.
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 confirming the diagram and assessment roll for the Wildwood Glen Landscaping District C-91 as set forth in the annual report of the Engineer of Work and thereby levy the assessment as set forth therein for Fiscal Year 2023/24.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, O’CONNOR, MILBERG, WERNICK
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-066.
I.2. Hold a public hearing and consider adopting a resolution confirming the diagram and assessment roll as set forth in the annual Engineer’s Report for the San Marin Landscaping Assessment District A-81 and thereby levy the assessment as set forth therein for Fiscal Year 2023/24. CEQA: categorically exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the City of Novato Environmental Review Guidelines pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, Existing Facilities
This item was taken out of order. Mayor Wernick announced she would be recusing herself due to real property that she owned and left the dais at 7:38pm.
Mayor Pro Tem Milberg became chair and Interim Public Works Director Whan presented the item.
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 adopt the resolution confirming the diagram and assessment roll as set forth in the annual Engineer’s Report for the San Marin Landscaping Assessment District A-81 and thereby levy the assessment as set forth therein for Fiscal Year 2023/24.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, O’CONNOR, MILBERG
NOES: NONE
RECUSED: WERNICK
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-064.
Mayor Wernick returned to the dais at 7:46pm and resumed the role as chair.
I.5. Hold a public hearing and consider adopting a resolution updating and establishing user and regulatory fees for Parks, Recreation & Community Services’ Equipment Rental and Non-Resident Program Fees, and the Community Development Department’s Code Enforcement Fees Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Katie Gauntlett and Community Development Director Vicki Parker presented the item.
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 adopt the resolution updating and establishing user and regulatory fees for Parks, Recreation & Community Services’ Equipment Rental and Non-Resident Program Fees, and the Community Development Department’s Code Enforcement Fees.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, O’CONNOR, MILBERG, WERNICK
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-070.
J. GENERAL BUSINESS
J.1. Consider and possibly take action to designate a voting representative and up to two alternate voting representatives for the League of California Cities Annual Conference Business Meeting
City Clerk Laura McDowall opened the item. There was consensus to appoint Mayor Pro Tem Mark Milberg as the voting delegate and Councilmember Pat Eklund as the alternate.
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 appoint Mayor Pro Tem Milberg as the voting delegate and Councilmember Eklund as the alternate.
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 8:00pm.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and adopted at the Novato City Council regular meeting of August 22, 2023. /Laura McDowall/
___________________
Laura McDowall, City Clerk