NOVATO CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
May 7, 2024 – 6:00 PM
A. CONVENE, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND ROLL CALL
The City Council meeting was called to order at 6:05 p.m., with Mayor Milberg leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Mark Milberg, Mayor Pro Tempore Tim O’Connor Councilmember Pat Eklund, and Councilmember Susan Wernick COUNCIL ABSENT: Councilmember Rachel Farac
STAFF PRESENT: Interim City Manager Amy Cunningham, Community Development Director Clare Hartman, Finance Director Carla Carvalho-Degraff, Deputy Community Development Director Steve Marshall, Accountant II Natalie Moline, City Attorney Gary Bell and City Clerk Laura McDowall CONSULTANTS PRESENT: Justin William, MUN CPA
CONSULTANTS REMOTE: David Bergman and Ethan Stan from Lisa Wise Consulting.
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
Police Chief Jim Naugle and members of the Police Department accepted the proclamation.
C.2. Proclamation: Gun Violence Awareness
Mayor Milberg read the proclamation.
D. APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA
Mayor Pro Tem O’Connor suggested moving City Council and City Manager reports to the end of the agenda.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember Wernick, the City Council voted 4-0-1 via roll call to approve the Final Agenda with City Council and City Manager reports moved to the end of the agenda, with Councilmember Farac being absent.
AYES: EKLUND, WERNICK, O’CONNOR, MILBERG
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: FARAC
Motion carried.
F. PUBLIC COMMENT
1. Patrick McNicholas
G. CONSENT CALENDAR
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Mayor Pro Tem O’Connor and seconded by Councilmember Wernick, the City Council voted 4-0-1 via roll call to approve the Consent Calendar, with Councilmember Farac being absent.
AYES: EKLUND, WERNICK, O’CONNOR, MILBERG
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: FARAC
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. Ratify the appointments made at the April 23, 2024, City Council meeting for the following Commission, Committee and Boards: Michele Manos to the Finance Advisory Commission, Mark Brand, David Fariello, Lucie Hollingsworth and William Meecham to the Housing and Homeless Committee, Cliff Jacobs, Sophia Osotio and Vladimir Matviishin to the Multicultural Advisory Commission, Bill Crockett, Justin Derby, Curtis Havel and Peter Tiernan to the Planning Commission, Bruce Bartel, Francis Drouillard, Sandra Marker and Bruce Ritter to the Police Advisory and Review Board, Dennis Bentley, Suzanne Crow, Erin Lacey, Mavi Pilloton and Beverly Winsor to the Recreation, Cultural and Community Services Advisory Commission, and Michael Barber, Joseph Farrell and Kevin Jacobs as regular full-term members, Tonya Church to a regular 1-year term and Michelle Derviss as an alternate to the Design Review Commission The City Council ratified the appointments.
G.3. Adopt a resolution authorizing the Interim City Manager or their designee to execute an amendment to Professional Services Agreement 5448 with TeamCivX Consultants by adding $72,000 for a total not to exceed $131,500 and extending the termination date to July 23, 2024, for consultant services for the city
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-029.
G.4. Receive and file a progress report on the first quarter of 2024 of the Council adopted Strategic Plan
The City Council received and filed the report.
G.5. Receive and file the Investment Report for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023/24 Quarter 3 The City Council received and filed the report.
G.6. Receive and file the Quarter 3 Budget Report for Fiscal Year 2023/2024 The City Council received and filed the report.
H. UNFINISHED AND OTHER BUSINESS
There were no items listed for this section.
J. GENERAL BUSINESS (reordered to hear first)
J.1. Receive and file the City of Novato Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for Fiscal Year 2021/2022 and adopt a resolution authorizing the transfer of the unassigned general fund balance to the Emergency and Disaster Reserve Fund per City Council policy
Interim City Manager Cunningham opened the item. Finance Director Carla Carvalho-Degraff, Accountant II Natalie Moline and Justin Williams from MUN CPA presented the report and responded to Council questions.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Mayor Pro Tem O’Connor and seconded by Councilmember Wernick, the City Council voted 4-0-1 via roll call to receive the Novato Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for Fiscal Year 2021/2022 and adopt the resolution authorizing the transfer of the unassigned general fund balance to the Emergency and Disaster Reserve Fund per City Council policy with Councilmember Farac being absent.
AYES: EKLUND, WERNICK, O’CONNOR, MILBERG
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: FARAC
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-030.
I. PUBLIC HEARINGS
I.1. Hold a public hearing and consider adopting a resolution amending Novato General Plan 2035 by adopting the Revised Draft 6th Cycle Housing Element covering the planning period of 2023-2031
Community Development Director Clare Hartman presented the item along with David Bergman and Ethan Stan from Lisa Wise Consulting, who were participating via teleconference. Director Hartman, Mr. Bergman, Mr. Stan and Community Development Deputy Director Steve Marshall responded to Council questions.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Zachary Griggy
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember Wernick, the City Council voted 4-0-1 via roll call to adopt the resolution amending Novato General Plan 2035 by adopting the Revised Draft 6th Cycle Housing Element covering the planning period of 2023-2031, with Councilmember Farac being absent.
AYES: EKLUND, WERNICK, O’CONNOR, MILBERG
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: FARAC
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-031.
The City Council took a brief recess at 8:56 p.m. and returned at 9:03 p.m.
I.2. Introduce an ordinance amending Chapter XX of the Novato Municipal Code governing mobilehome rent control
City Attorney Gary Bell presented the item. The Council gave feedback on the proposed ordinance, which would come back for introduction at a future date.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Katie Cartwright
2. Steven Rosenfeld
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.
E. REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL & CITY MANAGER (moved to the end of the agenda)
There were no reports.
M. ADJOURNMENT
At 9:56 p.m., the City Council adjourned the meeting in memory of Will Travis.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and adopted at the Novato City Council regular meeting of June 11, 2024.
/Laura McDowall/
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Laura McDowall, City Clerk