JOINT CITY COUNCIL/CITY COUNCIL AS SUCCESSOR AGENCY
TO DISSOLVED REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY/
NOVATO PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY
MEETING MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
June 24, 2025 – 6:00 PM
A. CONVENE, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND ROLL CALL
The City Council meeting was called to order at 6:03 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, Assistant City Manager Carla Hansen, Director of Community Development Clare Hartman, Finance Director Carla Carvalho-DeGraff, Interim Public Works Director Tim Burke, Principal Management Analyst Jennifer Maldonado, Traffic Engineer Consultant Kenny Jeong, 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 - Karyn Harrington - 21 years of Service with City of Novato Karyn Harrington accepted the proclamation.
D. APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Farac, 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. Michelle Leopold
2. Elizabeth O’Donnell
3. Alexandra Talbott
4. Daniela Contreras
5. Brot Holdman
6. Allie Behr
7. Mark Van Gorder
8. Kate Ruehle
G. CONSENT CALENDAR
Prior to the vote, Councilmember Jacobs announced that he would be recusing himself from item G.5 due to real property he owned.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Mayor Pro Tem Farac and seconded by Councilmember Milberg, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to approve the Consent Calendar with Councilmember Jacobs recused from item G.5.
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 its entirety.
G.2. Adopt a resolution establishing the appropriations limit of $163,567,602 for Fiscal Year 2025/26
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-047.
G.3. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an amendment to the Consultant Services Agreement with Mark Thomas & Company, Inc. in the amount of $216,095, for a proposed total contract amount of $1,265,571, for project management, design, right-of-way appraisal, acquisition, and certification services for the Novato Boulevard Improvements Project, CIP Project No. 01-004
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-048.
G.4. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute Program Supplement No. F019 to Administering Agency-State Master Agreement for Federal-Aid Projects No. 04-5361 F15 for the Citywide Bridge Assessment / Improvements, CIP Project No. 17-007; Federal-Aid Project No. BPMP5361(032) The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-049.
G.5. Adopt a resolution of intention to levy assessments for Fiscal Year 2025/26 for Landscape Assessment District A-81 in the San Marin Area and set a hearing date of July 8, 2025, to confirm or revise the Fiscal Year 2025/26 assessments proposed in the Engineer's Report
CEQA: Exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, Existing Facilities
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-050.
G.6. Adopt a resolution of intention to levy assessments for Fiscal Year 2025/26 for Landscape Assessment District A 03 in the San Pablo Subdivision and to set a public hearing date of July 8, 2025, to confirm or revise the Fiscal Year 2025/26 assessments proposed in the Engineer's Report
CEQA: Exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, Existing Facilities
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-051.
G.7. Adopt a resolution of intention to levy assessments for Fiscal Year 2025/26 for Landscape Assessment District C 91 in the Wildwood Glen Subdivision and setting a public hearing date of July 8, 2025, to confirm or revise the Fiscal Year 2025/26 assessments proposed in the Draft Engineer's Report CEQA: Exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, Existing Facilities
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-052.
G.8. Adopt a resolution of intention to levy assessments for Fiscal Year 2025/26 for Landscape Assessment District A 91 in the Hillside Park Unit 4 Subdivision and setting a public hearing date of July 8, 2025 to confirm or revise the Fiscal Year 2025/26 assessments proposed in the Draft Engineer's Report
CEQA: Exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, Existing Facilities
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-053.
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 provide feedback to The Sherman Group on the updated proposed development at City-Owned Properties at 900 Sherman Avenue (APN: 153-063-14) and 908 Sherman Avenue (APN: 153-063-15) Assistant City Manager Carla Hansen opened the item, and Henry Hautau with The Sherman Group gave the presentation and responded to Council questions.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Seth Shorett
2. Ross Ingels
3. Stephanie Koehler
4. Barbara Slack
5. Jim Stafford
6. Doug Houlahan
7. Nick
J.2. Consider adopting a resolution to take steps to comply with Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s (MTC’s) Transit Oriented Communities (TOC) Preservation Policy 5: Public/Community Land Trusts as a condition for MTC to allocate regional discretionary funding for the Countywide Land Trust Housing Policy Implementation
Community Development Director Clare Hartman presented the item along with Jillian Ziegler from the County of Marin who was joining via teleconference.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Regina Bianucci Rus
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Mayor Pro Tem Farac and seconded by Councilmember Eklund, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to adopt the resolution to take steps to comply with Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s (MTC’s) Transit Oriented Communities (TOC) Preservation Policy 5: Public/Community Land Trusts as a condition for MTC to allocate regional discretionary funding for the Countywide Land Trust Housing Policy Implementation
AYES: EKLUND, JACOBS, MILBERG, FARAC, O’CONNOR
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-054.
The City Council took a brief recess at 7:59 p.m. and returned at 8:08 p.m.
J.3. Approve the final striping plan for the section of Grant Avenue included in the 2025 Annual Pavement Rehabilitation project (CIP 25-001) Interim Public Works Director Tim Burke presented the item and responded to Council questions along with Consulting Traffic Engineer Kenny Jeong.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Liz Bernstein
2. Anne Roggenbuck
3. Joakim Osthus
4. Alejandro Reyes
5. Barbara Slack
6. Tim Blofeld
7. Derek Knell
8. Sean
9. Jefferson Reyes Diaz
10. Stephanie Koehler
11. Casey Ward
It was explained that there were three possible options available: Option A would have a Class II bike lane on the north side of the roadway (Westbound), a Class III bike lane on the south side of the roadway (Eastbound), retain the center turn land and would allow for 47 parking spaces, Option C which would have a Class II bike lane on both sides of the roadway, no center turn lane and would have 31 parking spaces and Option C.1 which would have Class II bike lanes on both sides of the roadway, parking between bike lanes and travel lanes, no center turn lane and 25 parking spaces.
While support for adding Class II bike lanes on both side of the roadway was expressed, there was concern about losing parking spaces and the center turn lane. It was generally felt that Option A should be selected as the striping plan.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Jacobs and seconded by Councilmember Eklund, the City Council voted 4-1 via roll call approve the striping plan as outlined in Option A, with Mayor Pro Tem Farac voting No.
AYES: EKLUND, JACOBS, MILBERG, O’CONNOR
NOES: FARAC
Motion carried.
J.4. Consideration and approval of: (i) a resolution adopting the final City of Novato Operating and Capital Improvement Program Budgets for FY 2025/26, and (ii) a resolution adopting the final budget of the Novato Public Finance Authority
City Manager Amy Cunningham opened the item and Finance Director Carla Carvalho-DeGraff and Principal Management Analyst Jennifer Maldonado gave the presentation.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
Councilmember Eklund express support of adding a project into the Capital Improvement Program to explore possible improvements needed at the Hamilton History Museum.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember Jacobs, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to adopt the resolution adopting the final City of Novato Operating and Capital Improvement Program Budgets for FY 2025/26 with the addition of the Hamilton project, and adopt the resolution adopting the final budget of the Novato Public Finance Authority.
AYES: EKLUND, JACOBS, MILBERG, FARAC, O’CONNOR
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-055 and NPFA 2025-001.
K. COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES AND BOARDS (CCB’S) APPOINTMENTS K.1. Consider reviewing, discussing, and possibly making appointments to the following Commission Committee and Board seats: 1 seat on the Complete Streets and Pathways Oversight Committee, 1 seat on the Economic Development Advisory Commission, 2 seats on the Multicultural Advisory Commission, 1 seat on the Marin County Commission on Aging and 1 seat on the Planning Commission
City Clerk Laura McDowall presented the item, and the City Council made the following appointments to their Commission, Committees and Boards:
Complete Streets and Pathways
Oversight Committee:
Imee Harsuvanakit
Economic Development Advisory
Commission:
Daniel Christian
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Jacobs and seconded by Councilmember Milberg, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to make the appointments.
AYES: EKLUND, JACOBS, MILBERG, FARAC, O’CONNOR
NOES: NONE
Motion carried.
Marin County Commission on Aging: Lauren Elkin
Multicultural Advisory Commission: Curtis Aikens
Ana Frias-Bravo
Planning Commission: Zachary Griggy
L. WORK STUDY SESSION
There were no items for this section
M. ADJOURNMENT
The City Council adjourned the meeting at 9:35 p.m. in memory of Bobby Sherman.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and adopted at the Novato City Council regular meeting of July 22, 2025.
/Laura McDowall/
___________________
Laura McDowall, City Clerk