NOVATO CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
June 11, 2024 – 6:01 PM
A. CONVENE, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND ROLL CALL
The City Council meeting was called to order at 6:01 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: City Manager Amy Cunningham, Public Works Director Nick Nguyen, Finance Director Carla Carvalho-Degraff, Deputy Director of Community Development Steve Marshall, Principal Management Analyst Jennifer Maldonado, Senior Planner Vivek Damodaran, City Attorney Gary Bell and City Clerk Laura McDowall
B. CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT
City Attorney Gary Bell announced that the City Council met in closed session prior to the open session and authorized litigation. Once that is commenced, the defendants and the particulars will be disclosable upon request.
C. CEREMONIAL MATTERS/PRESENTATIONS
C.1. Proclamation: Pride Month
Grace Cosentino, faculty sponsor for GSA at San Jose Middle School, accepted the proclamation.
C.2. Proclamation: Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month Lauren Vreeland Long from Age and Disability Friendly Novato was present to accept the proclamation.
D. APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA
Mayor Pro Tem O’Connor suggested moving reports from the City Council and the City Manager to the end of the agenda.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Mayor Pro Tem O’Connor and seconded by Councilmember Eklund, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to approve the Final Agenda, with Reports from the City Council and the City Manager moved to the end of the agenda.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, WERNICK, O’CONNOR, MILBERG
NOES: NONE
Motion carried.
E. REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL & CITY MANAGER
This item was moved to the end of the agenda.
F. PUBLIC COMMENT
1. Bryna Holland
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.
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 open and closed session meeting minutes of May 7, 2024 The City Council approved the open and closed session meeting minutes of May 7, 2024.
G.3. Approve the closed and open session City Council meeting minutes of May 14, 2024
The City Council approved the closed and open session meeting minutes of May 14, 2024
G.4. Adopt a resolution to submit to the California Transportation Commission a list of approved capital improvement projects that are eligible for state Roadway Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account funding for Fiscal Year 2024/25
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-036.
G.5. Appoint Allison Skinner and Keith Buchignani to the Multicultural Advisory Commission
The City Council appointed Allison Skinner and Keith Buchignani to the Multicultural Advisory Commission.
G.6. Adopt a resolution awarding a professional services contract to PlaceWorks, Inc. for the General Plan Safety Element Update in the amount of $182,388, and authorize the City Manager to execute the contract
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-037.
G.7. Receive and file the list of upcoming and to be determined City Council agenda items for the second quarter of 2024
The City Council received and filed the list.
G.8. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute maintenance agreement amendment #3 with Universal Building Services and Supply Co. for the city’s janitorial services for a total not to exceed $326,000 for the period between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, with the option to renew for a second fiscal year, pending fiscal year 2024/2025 budget authorization, for a total of $652,000
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-038.
G.9. Adopt a resolution approving an updated job description for the classification of Engineering Services Manager
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-039.
G.10. Adopt a resolution approving the new classification of Senior Systems Engineer in the Information Technology Division
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-040.
G.11. Authorize the City Manager to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the Marin County Transit District for removal and replacement of eight (8) existing City-owned advertising bus shelters and transfer maintenance responsibility
CEQA: Exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Existing Facilities)
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-041.
H. UNFINISHED AND OTHER BUSINESS
There were no items listed for this section.
I. PUBLIC HEARINGS
I.1. Hold a budget hearing, receive public comment on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024/25 Preliminary Operating and Capital Improvement Budgets, and provide any final direction to Staff, including how to backfill the preliminary deficit
City Manager Amy Cunningham opened the item and introduced Finance Director Carla Carvalho-Degraff and Principal Management Analyst Jennifer Maldonado who gave the presentation. City Manager Cunningham, Director Carvalho-Degraff and Principal Management Analyst Maldonado responded to Council questions along with Public Works Director Nick Nguyen and Deputy Community Development Director Steve Marshall.
The following people spoke if favor of the budget:
1. John Hansen
2. Jay Shelfer
3. Mary Currie
4. Carol Joy-Harris
5. Serena Fischer
Mayor Pro Tem O’Connor suggested including an option to allocate funds in the draft budget to include a Parking Study and Strategy Plan, to which the Council agreed. It was clarified that Staff would include this option when the budget returned to Council at the next meeting for adoption.
The City Council took a brief recess at 7:38 p.m. and reconvened at 7:48 p.m.
I.2. 3rd Street & Grant Avenue Mixed-Use (P203-056)
AB 2011 Objective Design Review, Tentative Map, & Density Bonus Hold a Public Hearing and consider adopting a resolution approving 3rd Street & Grant Avenue Mixed-Use, including 56 Multi-Family Dwellings, 1,735 square feet of ground floor commercial space, and associated improvements at 1212 & 1214 Grant Avenue (APNs 141-262-12 & -13) CEQA: Exempt ministerial project under AB 2011
Deputy Director of Community Development Steve Marshall and Senior Planner Vivek Damodaran presented the item. Deputy Director Marshall, Senior Planner Damodaran and representatives from the applicant, AMG & Associates, responded to Council questions.
The following people spoke against the project:
1. Stephanie Koehler
2. Harvey McKeon
3. Carla Small
4. C.M.S Wallbank
5. Robin Strong
6. Jeanie Jarnot
7. Barbara Slack
8. Peter Tarantino
9. Susan Palm
10. Larisa Cooley
11. Janine Pera
12. Michale Atkinson
13. Steve Jordan
14. Zachary Griggy
The following people spoke in favor of the project:
1. Lucie Hollingsworth
The City Council expressed that they were extremely reluctant to approve the project, citing strong concerns about the building height and the lack of parking. It was clarified, however, that the City Council could not modify or deny approval of the project due to the provisions of Assembly Bill 2011.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Wernick and seconded by Councilmember Eklund, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to adopt the resolution approving 3rd Street & Grant Avenue Mixed-Use, including 56 Multi-Family Dwellings, 1,735 square feet of ground floor commercial space, and associated improvements at 1212 & 1214 Grant Avenue (APNs 141-262- 12 & -13).
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, WERNICK, O’CONNOR, MILBERG
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-042.
J. GENERAL BUSINESS
There were no items for this section.
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 given.
M. ADJOURNMENT
The City Council adjourned the meeting at 10:04 p.m.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and adopted at the Novato City Council regular meeting of July 9, 2024.
/Laura McDowall/
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Laura McDowall, City Clerk