NOVATO CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
May 14, 2024 – 6:00 PM
A. CONVENE, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND ROLL CALL
The City Council meeting was called to order at 6:08 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, Police Chief Jim Naugle, Finance Director Carla Carvalho-Degraff, Community Development Director Clare Hartman, Public Works Director Nick Nguyen, Principal Management Analyst Jennifer Maldonado, Accountant II Natalie Moline, City Attorney Gary Bell and City Clerk Laura McDowall
CONSULTANTS REMOTE: Ken Nordhoff, HdL Companies
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: Public Works Week
Public Works Director Nick Nguyen, Maintenance Supervisor Lyle Waite and members of the Public Works Team accepted the proclamation.
C.2. Recognition for Dave Jeffries
Shelly Jeffries, Laura Land and many members of the community were present to honor the memory of Dave Jeffries.
The City Council took a recess from 6:22 p.m. – 6:29 p.m.
C.3. Sales Tax Presentation from HdL
Ken Nordhoff from HdL Companies gave the presentation via teleconference.
D. APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA
Mayor Pro Tem O’Connor announced he would like to pull Item G.6 from the Consent Calendar and place it at the end of the agenda.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember Farac, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to approve the Final Agenda with Item G.6 pulled from the Consent Calendar and placed at the end of the agenda.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, WERNICK, O’CONNOR, MILBERG
NOES: NONE
Motion carried.
E. 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
1. Mark Smith
2. Peter Mendoza
G. CONSENT CALENDAR
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember Farac, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to approve the Consent Calendar, with Item G.6 pulled and placed at the end of General Business.
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 City Council meeting minutes of April 23, 2024
The City Council approved the closed and open session City Council meeting minutes of April 23, 2024.
G.3. Approve the City Council closed session special meeting minutes of April 30, 2024
The City Council approved the closed and open session City Council meeting minutes of April 30, 2024.
G.4. Adopt a resolution authorizing the Interim City Manager or their designee to execute a technology agreement contract with MaintStar Inc. for a 5-year license, installation and training of the selected Land Management Enterprise system software in the amount of $629,600; and amend the CIP Budget to allocate $131,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Information Technology Systems Project CP22-007 to cover the program’s first year
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-032.
G.5. Adopt a resolution authorizing the Interim City Manager or their designee to execute a second amendment to Professional Services Agreement 5355 with ClientFirst Technology Consultants for land management system software implementation support; and allocate $75,600 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Technology Systems Improvements Project CP22-007
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-033.
G.6. Adopt a resolution approving a revised investment policy This item was pulled off the Consent Calendar and placed at the end of the agenda.
G.7. Accept the work as complete and authorize the City Manager to sign the Notice of Completion for the Citywide Crosswalk Enhancements & Traffic Management, CIP Project 22-005, and the 2023 & 2024 Annual Pavement Rehabilitation – Contract 1, CIP Project 23-001 & 24-001 The City Council accepted the work as complete and authorized the City Manager to sign the Notice of Completion.
G.8. Receive and file Fiscal Year 2021/2022 Measure F 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
There were no items for this section
J. GENERAL BUSINESS
J.1. Consideration and possible adoption of a resolution appointing Amy Cunningham as City Manager and approving and authorizing the Mayor to execute an employment agreement with her as City Manager for the City of Novato
City Attorney Gary Bell presented the item and the City Council said words of appreciation for Amy Cunningham.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Mayor Milberg and seconded by Councilmember Wernick, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to adopt the resolution appointing Amy Cunningham as City Manager and approving and authorizing the Mayor to execute an employment agreement with her as City Manager for the City of Novato.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, WERNICK, O’CONNOR, MILBERG
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-034.
The City Council took a brief recess at 7:40 p.m. and reconvened at 7:46 p.m.
J.2. Adopt a resolution approving the Novato Police Department’s 2023-2024 Military Equipment Use Annual Report and list of equipment and renewing Ordinance No. 1703 approving Military Equipment Use Policy 710 pursuant to California Assembly Bill 481
Chief of Police Jim Naugle presented the item and responded to Council questions.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember Wernick, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to adopt the resolution approving the Novato Police Department’s 2023-2024 Military Equipment Use Annual Report and list of equipment and renewing Ordinance No. 1703 approving Military Equipment Use Policy 710 pursuant to California Assembly Bill 481.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, WERNICK, O’CONNOR, MILBERG
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-035.
L.1. Receive and consider a preliminary overview of the Fiscal Year 2024/2025 (FY24/25) Operating and Capital Budgets and provide additional budget development direction to Staff
Interim City Manager Cunningham opened the item and Finance Director Carla Carvalho-Degraff and Principal Management Analyst Jennifer Maldonado gave the presentation.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
Interim City Manager Cunningham, Assistant City Manager Jessica Deakyne, Director Carvalho-Degraff, Analyst Maldonado, Community Development Director Clare Hartman and Public Works Director Nick Nguyen responded to Council questions and received direction on the development of the Fiscal Year 2024/25 Operating and Capital Budgets.
The City Council took a recess between 9:11 p.m. to 9:18 p.m.
PULLED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR:
G.6. Adopt a resolution approving a revised investment policy Accountant II Natalie Moline gave an overview of the item. Mayor Pro Tem O’Connor explained that he had pulled the item to explore updating the City’s investment policy.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
It was generally felt that Staff should explore the possibility of updating the Policy, and return to Council at a future date.
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 10:25 p.m.
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