NOVATO CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
February 13, 2024 – 6:00 PM
A. CONVENE, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND ROLL CALL
The City Council meeting was called to order at 6:11 p.m., with Mayor Milberg leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Mark Milberg, Mayor Pro Tempore Tim O’Connor Councilmember Pat Eklund, Councilmember Rachel Farac, and Councilmember Susan Wernick
STAFF PRESENT: Interim City Manager Amy Cunningham, Assistant City Manager Jessica Deakyne, Community Development Director Clare Hartman, Principal Management Analyst Jennifer Maldonado, 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
Paul Price was present to accept the proclamation.
C.2. Proclamation: Spirit of Novato
Barbara Madrid accepted the proclamation.
C.3. Proclamation: Micro Business of the Year
Daniel Spain was unable to attend; Keven Jacobs accepted the proclamation on his behalf.
C.4. Proclamation: Small Business of the Year
Buddy Van Steen accepted the proclamation for Small Business of the Year for Buddy’s Autobody and Restoration.
C.5. Proclamation: Large Business of the Year
Chief Executive Officer Dawn Weisz and Chief of Staff Jamie Tuckey from MCE accepted the proclamation for Large Business of the Year.
D. APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember Wernick, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to approve the Final Agenda.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, WERNICK, O’CONNOR, MILBERG
NOES: NONE
Motion carried.
E. REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL & CITY MANAGER
E.1. Councilmember Farac Proposed Agenda Item: Pilot Event to Strengthen the Bond between the City and the Community
Councilmember Farac presented the item and responded to Council questions.
The City Council agreed the item should move forward on a future agenda.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem O’Connor, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to agendize a discussion about this item at a future council meeting.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, WERNICK, O’CONNOR, MILBERG
NOES: NONE
Motion carried.
E.2. Reports from the City Council & City Manager
Interim City Manager Cunningham 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
Prior to the vote on the Consent Calendar, Councilmember Farac and Councilmember Eklund announced that they would be recusing themselves from Item G.8 due to the project’s proximity to real property that they owned.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Mayor Pro Tem O’Connor and seconded by Councilmember Wernick, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to approve the Consent Calendar with Councilmember Eklund and Councilmember Farac recused from Item G.8.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, WERNICK, O’CONNOR, MILBERG
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 closed and open session meeting minutes of January 9, 2024 The City Council approved the closed and open session meeting minutes of January 9, 2024.
G.3. Approve the City Council meeting minutes of January 23, 2024 The City Council approved the meeting minutes of January 23, 2024.
G.4. 773, 775, & 777 San Marin Drive
APNs 125-202-03, -04, & -05
Adopt Ordinance 1712 repealing and replacing City of Novato Ordinance No. 887, originally approving the Fireman’s Fund Office Campus, with a combined Master Plan, Precise Development Plan, and Design Review supporting residential redevelopment of the former office campus property at 773, 775, & 777 San Marin Drive
The City Council adopted Ordinance 1712.
G.5. Village at Novato Mixed-Use Project
7530 Redwood Boulevard | APNs 143-011-05 & -08
Adopt ordinance 1713 approving an amendment to the Novato Zoning Map applicable to the parcels at 7530 Redwood Boulevard, APNs 143-011-05 & 143-011-08, from General Commercial (CG) to Mixed-Use (MU) for the Village at Novato Mixed-Use Project
The City Council adopted Ordinance 1713.
G.6. Receive and file the Investment Report for FY 23/24 Quarter 2 The City Council received and filed the report.
G.7. Introduce an ordinance repealing and reenacting Appendix A to Section 2-
22.1 of the Novato Municipal Code relating to the Conflict-of-Interest Code, to add, delete or change specific employee position titles The City Council introduced Ordinance 1714.
G.8. Adopt a resolution approving the plans and specifications and authorizing bid advertisement for the 2023 & 2024 Annual Pavement Rehabilitation – Contract 2 (CIP Projects No. 23-001 & 24-001)
CEQA: Exempt pursuant to CEQA Guideline 15301 Existing Facilities - Subsections 15301(c) and 15301(d
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-016.
G.9. Award the construction contract for the Grant Avenue Bridge Rehabilitation, CIP Project No. 09-003, Federal-Aid Project No. BHLS-5361(023) for the base bid plus bid alternates A2, A3, A4 and A5 in the total amount of $2,923,657 to Minerva Construction, Inc. as the lowest responsible bidder and authorize the City Manager to execute the construction contract
The City Council awarded the construction contract to Minerva Construction, Inc and authorized the City Manager to execute same.
H. UNFINISHED AND OTHER BUSINESS
There were no items listed for this section.
I. PUBLIC HEARINGS
There were no items for this section.
J. GENERAL BUSINESS
J.1. Consider and approve the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024/25 budget calendar listing public meeting dates for the upcoming budget development process Principal Management Analyst Jennifer Maldonado presented the item and responded to Council questions. It was suggested that an in-person community workshop with additional outreach/promotion be added to the budget calendar.
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 accept the proposed budget calendar with the addition of an in-person public workshop.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, WERNICK, O’CONNOR, MILBERG
NOES: NONE
Motion carried.
The City Council took a brief recess between 7:28 p.m. -7:35 p.m.
J.2. Receive an update on the Community Sponsorship Policy and consider directing staff to amend the existing Administrative Policy (5.23, October 2014)
Assistant City Manager Jessica Deakyne opened the item and gave a presentation.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Coy Smith
It was suggested that the proposed policy be updated to include all of Staff’s suggested edits and to add provisions to set aside a certain amount for smaller nonprofits and that the fund be increased annually based on CPI. While concern was expressed that the changes may not be necessary since the funding had not been exhausted in prior years, it was generally felt that the changes should be incorporated and that a revised version should return to Council for approval at a future meeting.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember Farac the City Council voted 3-2 via roll call to have staff return with a revised policy to include setting aside a certain amount for smaller nonprofits like Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, that sort of thing, and that the funds be increased annually by CPI or whatever factor Staff feels comfortable with, with Councilmember Wernick and Mayor Pro Tem O’Connor voting No.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, MILBERG
NOES: WERNICK, O’CONNOR
Motion carried.
The City Council took a brief recess at 8:32 p.m. and returned at 8:36 p.m.
J.3. Receive a progress report on the first six months of the Council adopted Strategic Plan
Interim City Manager Cunningham presented the item and responded to Council questions along with Assistant City Manager Deakyne and Community Development Director Clare Hartman.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Carol-Joy Harris
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 9:10 p.m., the City Council adjourned the meeting in memory of Elvera Berson.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and adopted at the Novato City Council regular meeting of February 27, 2024. /Laura McDowall/
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Laura McDowall, City Clerk