NOVATO CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
December 5, 2023 – 6:00 PM
A. CONVENE, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND ROLL CALL
The City Council meeting was called to order at 6:03 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: Acting Manager Jessica Deakyne, Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Katie Gauntlett, Principal Management Analyst Sullina Smith, 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. The City Council will meet again in closed session upon adjournment of the open session and a report out will be made if needed. Please see separate closed session minutes.
C. CEREMONIAL MATTERS/PRESENTATIONS - None
D. APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA
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 approve the Final Agenda.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, O’CONNOR, MILBERG, WERNICK
NOES: NONE
Motion carried.
E. REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL & CITY MANAGER
Acting City Manager Deakyne 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 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 October 24, 2023 The City Council approved the meeting minutes of October 24, 2023.
G.3. Approve the City Council closed and open session special meeting minutes of November 3, 2023
The City Council approved the meeting closed and open session special meeting minutes of November 3, 2023.
G.4. Adopt a resolution authorizing the Acting City Manager or designee to execute a cost share agreement with Novato Sanitary District and an MOU with North Marin Water District, and to execute a contract with T2 UES, Inc,. for utility investigation services for the Novato Boulevard Improvement Project, CIP #01-004
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-102.
G.5. Adopt a resolution amending the Capital Improvement Program Budget to allocate funds from closed projects to other projects, transfer funds back to original funding sources where no longer needed for projects, transfer Measure F (Fund 111) funds to the Long-Term Maintenance Infrastructure (Fund 119) for CIP projects already programmed and authorizing the Acting City Manager or their designee to take the actions necessary to enact the modifications
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-103
G.6. Quarter 1 Fiscal Year 2023/2024 Budget Performance Report The City Council received and filed the report.
H. UNFINISHED AND OTHER BUSINESS
There were no items listed for this section.
I. PUBLIC HEARINGS
I.1. Consider completing the annual assessment process for the Downtown Novato Business Improvement District (BID) by holding a public hearing and adopting a resolution confirming the Downtown Novato Business Association/Business Improvement District (DNBA/BID) 2023 Annual Report and 2024 Budget, thereby confirming the levy of BID assessments for calendar year 2024
Principal Management Analyst Sullina Smith 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 confirming the Downtown Novato Business Association/Business Improvement District (DNBA/BID) 2023 Annual Report and 2024 Budget, thereby confirming the levy of BID assessments for calendar year 2024 AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, O’CONNOR, MILBERG, WERNICK
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-104.
The City Council took a brief recess between 7:04pm – 7:15pm.
J. GENERAL BUSINESS
J.1. Receive a presentation from staff on the Evaluation Process of City-Owned Properties and provide initial direction on the next steps Acting City Manager Deakyne gave the presentation and responded to Council questions along with Principal Management Analyst Smith and Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Katie Gauntlett.
PUBLIC COMMENT: NONE
The City Council gave direction to staff.
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 8:03pm, the City Council adjourned the meeting in memory of Nick Zolli.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and adopted at the Novato City Council regular meeting of January 23, 2024. /Laura McDowall/
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Laura McDowall, City Clerk