NOVATO CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
October 8, 2024 – 6:00 PM
A. CONVENE, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND ROLL CALL
The City Council meeting was called to order at 6:07 p.m., with Veterans of Foreign Wars Honor Guard 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, Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Katie Gauntlett, 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 and reconvened back into closed session upon adjournment.
C. CEREMONIAL MATTERS/PRESENTATIONS
C.1. Proclamation - VFW Post 7816
Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars accepted the proclamation.
C.2 Proclamation - Novato Gymnastics Center 25th Anniversary Recreation Supervisor Perry Siu accepted the proclamation.
C.3 Proclamation - Unity Day 2024
Members of the City of Novato Human Resources Department accepted the proclamation.
D. APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Wernick and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem O’Connor, 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. Proposed Agenda Item - O'Connor: Create a Digital Safety Course for Children Aged 10-16 Years Old
Mayor Pro Tem O’Connor presented the item and responded to Council questions.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
It was generally agreed that the item should return at a future meeting for further discussion.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember Farac, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to bring the item back for a discussion to determine the scope and estimated cost, and that in the meantime staff could contact the League of California Cities and the school district association statewide to see if this has been developed elsewhere.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, WERNICK, O’CONNOR, MILBERG
NOES: NONE
Motion carried.
E.2 City Council and City Manager Reports
The City Council gave reports on meetings and events they had attended.
F. PUBLIC COMMENT
1. Elizabeth Padilla
2. Bernie Meyers
3. Larissa Thomas
4. Elizabeth Sleath
5. Barbara Cherry
6. Jeanne MacLeamy
7. Suzanne Crow
8. Mike L.
G. CONSENT CALENDAR
Upon an announcement from Councilmember Eklund, Item G.5 was pulled from the consent calendar and placed under General Business.
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 Consent Calendar, with item G.5 pulled and placed under 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 City Council meeting minutes of September 10, 2024 The City Council approved the meeting minutes of September 10, 2024.
G.3. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a Purchase and Sale Agreement and the Acceptance of the Grant Deed for right-of-way acquisition at 870 Cypress Ave for the Novato Boulevard Improvement Project, CIP #01-004
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-092.
G.4. Receive and file the City of Novato’s first quarter payment register report for the months of July, August and September 2024
The City Council received and filed the report.
G.5. Adopt a resolution directing staff to issue a Request for Quotes & Information (RFQ/I) for Professional Real Estate Advisory Services This item was pulled from the Consent Calendar and placed under General Business.
G.6. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager or their designee to execute an agreement with DLB Construction Consulting in the amount of $197,375 for remediation services at Lee Gerner Park and find that the approval thereof is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to CEQA guidelines sections 15269(b) and 15301-15304
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-094.
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. Receive a presentation and consider approving the proposed Draft Playground Design for Josef Hoog Community Park, 558 Marin Oaks Drive, as part of the Hoog Park Playground and Accessibility Enhancements Project, CIP #17-004, and authorize the City Manager to execute a purchasing agreement for the play equipment and surfacing for $264,699.38; and make findings of exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, Existing Facilities Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Katie Gauntlett gave the presentation and responded to Council questions.
The City Council took a brief recess at 7:56pm and returned at 8:06pm.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Alia Barksdale
2. Scottie Barksdale
3. Joyce Noori
4. Christian Burke
5. Alicia Ncho-Oguie
6. Philip Wyatt
7. Janine Pera
8. Lauren Vreeland Long
9. Piper
10.Emily Larsen
Discussion ensued on the options for the footing in the park, and it was generally felt that the design should move forward as proposed.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Wernick and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem O’Connor, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to approve the proposed Draft Playground Design for Josef Hoog Community Park as part of the Hoog Park Playground and Accessibility Enhancements Project, CIP #17-004, and authorize the City Manager to execute a purchasing agreement for the play equipment and surfacing for $264,699.38; and make findings of exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, Existing Facilities
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, WERNICK, O’CONNOR, MILBERG
NOES: NONE
Motion carried.
J.2. Consider adopting a resolution approving the updated City Council Policy manual with or without further amendments or provide direction to staff on further amendments
City Attorney Gary Bell presented the item and received feedback and revisions from the City Council.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Larisa Thomas
It was clarified that the final version of the City Council Policy Manual incorporating all of the changes would return to a future meeting for approval on the Consent Calendar.
J.3 Receive a presentation from the Public Works Department regarding the development of a construction management plan (CMP) policy for private developments and provide direction to staff on applicability and next steps This item was pushed to a future meeting.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR
G.5. Adopt a resolution directing staff to issue a Request for Quotes & Information (RFQ/I) for Professional Real Estate Advisory Services Councilmember Eklund explained that she pulled this item from the Consent Calendar to ask a question about the list of properties included in the staff report.
It was clarified that approving the issuance of the RFQ/I did not approve the list of properties.
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 move the item with the understanding that all the list of the properties are not included on this necessarily.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, WERNICK, O’CONNOR, MILBERG
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-093.
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 10:22 p.m., the City Council adjourned the meeting in memory of Al Boro.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and adopted at the Novato City Council regular meeting of November 19, 2024. /Laura McDowall/
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Laura McDowall, City Clerk