NOVATO CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
May 20, 2025 – 6:00 PM
A. CONVENE, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND ROLL CALL
The City Council meeting was called to order at 6:06 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, Police Chief Jim Naugle, Community Development Director Clare Hartman, Finance Director Carla Carvalho-DeGraff, Chief People Officer Eva Hilliard, Management Analyst II Greg Canfield, Accountant/Analyst Christina Soares, City Attorney Gary Bell and City Clerk Laura McDowall
B. CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT
There was no closed session.
C. CEREMONIAL MATTERS/PRESENTATIONS
C.1. Proclamation: Public Works Week
Members of the Public Works Department accepted the proclamation.
C.2. Alchemia Art Day Proclamation
Daniel Spain, Emily Bugos and Rachel Hundley of Novato Chamber of Commerce Leadership Team Stafford Lake and Elizabeth Clary and artists from Alchemia accepted the proclamation.
C.3. Novato Proud: Wesley Fink
Wesley Fink accepted the Novato Proud certificate.
D. APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Mayor Pro Tem Farac and seconded by Councilmember Eklund, 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. Paul Perryman
2. Travis Balzarini
3. Sarah Bailey
4. Nick Malliaras
5. Clark Moretti
6. Tiffany Porter
7. Perry Siu
8. Veronica Brierley
9. Sam Hagner
10. George Casparini
11. Pablo Flores
12. Jana Blunt
13. David Ayala
14. Amarantha Silva
15. Maria Lemus
16. Javier
17. Kevin Fernandez
18. Veronica Hernandez
19. Oscar Perez
20. Estuardo Tum
21. Jesus Portolio
22. Yenifer Villatoro
23. Nelson Otis
24. Diego Celis
25. Vilma Monzan
26. Jocelyn Monzan
27. Rica Vicente
28. Catarino Pernandez
G. CONSENT CALENDAR
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember Milberg, 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. Adopt a resolution approving the list of approved capital improvement projects that are eligible for state Roadway Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account funding for Fiscal Year 2025/26 and authorizing staff to submit the list to the California Transportation Commission
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-038.
G.3. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to approve an extension to the existing agreement with MUN CPAs, LLC (formerly Mann Urrutia Nelson CPAs & Associates) to perform the financial audit and single audit for fiscal years 2024/2025 and 2025/2026, with the option to extend the agreement for up to three additional years covering fiscal years 2026/2027, 2027/2028, and 2028/2029 for an annual cost not to exceed $79,600 per year The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-039.
G.4. Authorize local sculptor Archie Held to submit an application for the Marin Community Foundation's Pirkle Jones Grant under the City's Art in Public Places Program with the intent to design a new sculpture to replace the existing deteriorating fountain located at Redwood Boulevard and Grant Avenue in Downtown Novato
The City Council authorized Archie Held to submit the application.
G.5. Adopt a resolution amending the City’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2024/2025 Operating Budget Resolution No. 2024-055 to transfer funds from General Fund Assigned Fund Balance in the amount of $33,235 for the purchase and installation of recreation facility safety enhancements at the Novato Gymnastics Center and Special Event equipment upgrades
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-040.
G.6. Receive and File the FY2024/25 3rd Quarter budget report The City Council received and filed the report.
The City Council took a recess at 7:57 p.m. and returned at 8:07 p.m.
H. UNFINISHED AND OTHER BUSINESS
There were no items listed for this section.
Councilmember Mark Milberg was feeling ill and left the meeting at 8:36pm.
I. PUBLIC HEARINGS
I.1. Hold a public hearing and receive and file a report in compliance with Assembly Bill (“AB”) 2561 (Gov. Code § 3502.3) regarding the City of Novato’s workforce vacancies, recruitment and retention efforts City Manager Amy Cunningham opened the item. Chief People Officer Eva Hilliard and Management Analyst II Greg Canfield gave the presentation and responded to Council questions along with Police Chief Jim Naugle.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Mayor Pro Tem Farac and seconded by Councilmember Eklund, the City Council voted 4-0-1 via roll call to receive and file a report, with Councilmember Milberg being absent.
AYES: EKLUND, JACOBS, FARAC, O’CONNOR
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: Milberg
Motion carried.
J. GENERAL BUSINESS
J.1. Receive and file the City of Novato Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023/2024 and adopt a resolution authorizing the transfer of the unassigned General Fund balance to the Emergency and Disaster Reserve Fund per City Council policy
Finance Director Carla Carvalho-DeGraff opened the item along with Accountant/Analyst Christina Soares, and Erica Pastor from MUN CPA presented the audit.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember Jacobs, the City Council voted 4-0-1 via roll call to adopt the resolution authorizing the transfer of the unassigned General Fund balance to the Emergency and Disaster Reserve Fund per City Council policy, with Councilmember Milberg being absent.
AYES: EKLUND, JACOBS, FARAC, O’CONNOR
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: MILBERG
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-041.
The City Council took a recess at 9:24 p.m. and returned at 9:28 p.m.
J.2. Receive a report on the Novato 6th Cycle Housing Element’s AntiDisplacement and Tenant Protections work plan and provide direction to staff
Community Development Director Clare Hartman presented the item and received feedback from the Council.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Erin Hawkins
2. Ethan Strull
3. Regina Bianucci Rus
4. Dhalma Suarez
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 10:21 p.m.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and adopted at the Novato City Council regular meeting of June 10, 2025.
/Laura McDowall/
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Laura McDowall, City Clerk