NOVATO CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
May 13, 2025 – 6:00 PM
A. CONVENE, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND ROLL CALL
The City Council meeting was called to order at 6:01 p.m., with Mayor O’Connor leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Tim O’Connor, Mayor Pro Tempore Rachel Farac, Councilmember Pat Eklund, Councilmember Kevin Jacobs, and Councilmember Mark Milberg
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Amy Cunningham, Community Development Director Clare Hartman, Finance Director Carla Carvalho-DeGraff, Deputy Community Development Director Steve Marshall, Principal Analyst Jennifer Maldonado, 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; there was nothing to report out.
C. CEREMONIAL MATTERS/PRESENTATIONS
C.1. Proclamation: Police Week
Police Chief Jim Naugle and members of the Novato Police Department accepted the proclamation.
C.2. Proclamation: Lyme Disease Awareness Month
Emily Handelman accepted the proclamation.
C.3. Presentation: Rooted in Marin: Strategies for Anti-Displacement Community Development Director Clare Hartman opened the item and Chris Logan, Partnership for Bay Future Fellow, County of Marin gave the presentation.
D. APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember Milberg, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to approve the Final Agenda.
AYES: EKLUND, JACOBS, MILBERG, FARAC, O’CONNOR
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. Lucie Hollingsworth
2. Gina Guillemette
3. Mike L.
4. Sara Terkaly
G. CONSENT CALENDAR
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember Jacobs, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to approve the Consent Calendar.
AYES: EKLUND, JACOBS, MILBERG, FARAC, O’CONNOR
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 open and closed session meeting minutes of April 22, 2025 The City Council approved the closed and open session meeting minutes of April 22, 2025.
G.3. Receive and file the Investment Report for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024/25 Quarter 3 The City Council received and filed the report.
G.4. Receive and file Fiscal Year 2023/24 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
I.1. Conduct a public hearing to consider adopting a resolution approving an addendum to the Novato General Plan 2035 Environmental Impact Report pursuant to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act and approve a tentative subdivision map and design review to redevelop the property at 100 Wood Hollow Drive, APN 125-202-17, as a residential neighborhood with 66 single-family residences and associated improvements
Steve Marshall gave the presentation and responded to Council questions along with the applicants. It was clarified that a revised resolution had been provided to the City Council and made available to the public, and that any action to adopt the resolution should include the revisions.
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 revised resolution approving an addendum to the Novato General Plan 2035 Environmental Impact Report pursuant to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act and approve a tentative subdivision map and design review to redevelop the property at 100 Wood Hollow Drive, APN 125- 202-17, as a residential neighborhood with 66 single-family residences and associated improvements.
AYES: EKLUND, JACOBS, MILBERG, FARAC, O’CONNOR
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-035.
The City Council took a brief recess at 7:54pm and returned at 8:03pm.
I.2. Conduct a public hearing to consider adopting a resolution approving the Novato Police Department’s 2024-2025 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 Police Chief Jim Naugle presented the item.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Mayor O’Connor, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to adopt the resolution approving the Novato Police Department’s 2024-2025 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, JACOBS, MILBERG, FARAC, O’CONNOR
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-036.
J. GENERAL BUSINESS
J.1. Adopt a resolution approving a structurally balanced budget policy Finance Director Carla Carvalho-Degraff gave the presentation. Councilmember Eklund expressed concern regarding the policy and felt that it should be postponed and brought back at a future meeting to allow Council to work with staff, but it was generally felt that it should be adopted as presented.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Motion by Councilmember Eklund that this item be put on a future agenda to allow some opportunity to talk to staff on questions on the policy.
Motion failed for lack of a second.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Mayor Pro Tem Farac and seconded by Councilmember Jacobs, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to adopt the resolution approving a structurally balanced budget policy.
AYES: JACOBS, MILBERG, FARAC, O’CONNOR
NOES: EKLUND
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-037.
K. COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES AND BOARDS (CCB’S) APPOINTMENTS There were no items for this section.
L. WORK STUDY SESSION
L.1. Receive and consider a preliminary overview of the Fiscal Year 2025/2026 (FY25/26) Operating and Capital Budgets and provide additional budget development direction to Staff
Finance Director Carvalho-Degraff and Principal Management Analyst Jennifer Maldonado gave the presentation and responded to Council questions along with Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Katie Gauntlett. The City Council provided feedback on the development of the Fiscal Year 2025/2026 budget.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
M. ADJOURNMENT
At 9:24 pm, the City Council adjourned the meeting in memory of Andy Pansini.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and adopted at the Novato City Council regular meeting of June 10, 2025.
/Laura McDowall/
___________________
Laura McDowall, City Clerk