NOVATO CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
November 19, 2024 – 6:00 PM
A. CONVENE, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND ROLL CALL
The City Council meeting was called to order at 6:02 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, Assistant City Manager Jessica Deakyne, Police Chief Jim Naugle, Community Development Director Clare Hartman, Chief Building Official Mark Setterland, Deputy Community Development Director Steve Marshall, Principal Management Analyst Sullina Smith, Sustainability Coordinator II Gretchen Schubeck, Management Analyst Miguel Perez, 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 unanimously authorized initiating litigation. Once commenced, the actions, defendants and other particulars shall be disclosed upon request.
C. CEREMONIAL MATTERS/PRESENTATIONS
C.1. Presentation - Marin Small Business Development Center Update Miriam Karell, Executive Director of the Marin Small Business Development Center gave the presentation.
C.2 Proclamation - Small Business Saturday
Miriam Karell, Executive Director of the Marin Small Business Development Center, Seth Shorett, Board President of the Novato Chamber of Commerce and Stephanie Koehler, Executive Director of the Downtown Novato were present to accept the proclamation.
D. APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Farac and seconded by Councilmember Eklund, 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
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. Elizabeth Sleath
G. CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Pro Tem O’Connor was recused from item G.4 due to the proximity of the project to real property that he owned.
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 Mayor Pro Tem O’Connor recused from item G.4.
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 October 8, 2024
The City Council approved the closed and open session meeting minutes of October 8, 2024.
G.3. Receive and file the Investment Report for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024/25 Quarter 1 The City Council received and filed the report.
G.4. Adopt a resolution approving plans and specifications and authorizing bid advertisement for the Wooden Streetlight Replacement Project (CIP) #23- 003, and finding that this project is exempt from the requirements of CEQA pursuant to Section 15302, Replacement or Construction
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-100.
G.5. Adopt a resolution authorizing Public Works staff to apply for the Transportation Authority of Marin Safe Pathways to Schools Capital Funding Grant
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-101.
G.6. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager, Assistant City Manager(s), and Finance Director to act as the Authorized Agents for the City of Novato in signing state and federal grant applications and other forms related to disaster financial assistance for a period of three (3) years The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-102.
G.7. Adopt a resolution approving the positions and identifying the persons who serve as trustees for the City of Novato deferred compensation plans American Funds and American Century
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-103.
G.8. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager or their designee to execute Amendment No. 1 to Agreement 5534, extending the services provided by Municipal Resource Group, LLC (MRG) for continued assistance with the Public Works Department for an amount of $62,400, bringing the total contract amount not to exceed $122,290
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-104.
G.9. Adopt a resolution awarding the construction contract for the replacement of the play area at Josef Hoog Park as part of the Hoog Park Playground and Accessibility Enhancements Project, CIP Project Number 17 004, for the base bid plus Bid Alternate 1 in the total amount of $270,087.17 to G&G Builders, Inc. as the lowest responsible bidder, and authorize the City Manager to execute the construction contract
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-105.
G.10. Receive a progress report on the third quarter of 2024 of the Council adopted Strategic Plan
The City Council received the report.
G.11. Adopt a resolution amending the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024/25 Operating and Capital Improvement Program budget (Resolution 2024-055) in the amount of $898,308 for the final allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and authorize City Manager to execute necessary budget amendments and contract amendments to encumber funds
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-106.
H. UNFINISHED AND OTHER BUSINESS
There were no items listed for this section.
I. PUBLIC HEARINGS
I.1. Consider completing the annual assessment process for the Downtown Novato Business Improvement District (BID) in partnership with the Downtown Novato Business Association (DNBA) by:
1. Holding a public hearing; and
2. Adopting a resolution confirming the DNBA/BID 2024 Annual Report and 2025 Budget, thereby authorizing the levy and collection of assessments within the Downtown Novato Business Improvement District for calendar year 2025
Principal Management Analyst Sullina Smith presented the item.
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 adopt the resolution confirming the DNBA/BID 2024 Annual Report and 2025 Budget, thereby authorizing the levy and collection of assessments within the Downtown Novato Business Improvement District for calendar year 2025
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, WERNICK, O’CONNOR, MILBERG
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-107.
I.2 Hold a public hearing and consider adopting a resolution amending the 2022 City of Novato Master Fee Schedule
Community Development Director Clare Hartman and Management Analyst Miguel Perez presented the item and responded to Council questions along with Sustainability Coordinator II Gretchen Schubeck, Chief Building Official Mark Setterland and Deputy Community Development Director Steve Marshall.
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 amending the 2022 City of Novato Master Fee Schedule AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, WERNICK, O’CONNOR, MILBERG
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-108.
The City Council took a brief recess at 7:46 pm and returned at 7:53 pm.
J. GENERAL BUSINESS
J.1. Consider adopting a resolution authorizing the City Manager or their designee to execute an agreement with The Petaluma People Services Center for a five-year pilot alternative response program, Specialized Assistance for Everyone (SAFE), in the amount of $548,713 for Fiscal Year 2024/25
Assistant City Manager Jessica Deakyne and Police Chief Jim Naugle opened the item and introduced The Petaluma People’s Executive Director Elece Hempel and Director of SAFE Team Aziz Majid who gave the presentation.
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 adopt the resolution authorizing the City Manager or their designee to execute an agreement with The Petaluma People Services Center for a five-year pilot alternative response program, Specialized Assistance for Everyone (SAFE), in the amount of $548,713 for Fiscal Year 2024/25
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC, WERNICK, O’CONNOR, MILBERG
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-109.
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 8:41 p.m., the City Council adjourned the meeting in memory of Craig Henderson.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and adopted at the Novato City Council regular meeting of December 3, 2024. /Laura McDowall/
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Laura McDowall, City Clerk