NOVATO CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
July 22, 2025 – 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 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 Bill Rose, Community Development Director Clare Hartman, Associate Engineer Petr Skala, City Attorney Gary Bell and City Clerk Laura McDowall B. CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT
There was no closed session.
C. CEREMONIAL MATTERS/PRESENTATIONS
C.1. 4th of July Parade Winners
Members of the 4th of July Committee and the City Council presented the trophy to winners Rhythm Performance Arts.
D. APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Jacobs 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. Karin Mortensen
2. Patty Hoyt
3. Sergio Barajas
4. Sarah Sorensen
5. Janine Bradley
6. Meg Jordan
G. CONSENT CALENDAR
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 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 the City Council meeting minutes of June 24, 2025 The City Council approved the meeting minutes of June 24, 2025.
G.3. Approve the closed and open session City Council meeting minutes of July 8, 2025
The City Council approved the meeting minutes of July 8, 2025.
G.4. Adopt ordinance 1724 to add Section 18-18 to Chapter XVIII of the Novato Municipal Code to prohibit those under 16 years of age from operating a Class 2 e-bike, as defined in California Vehicle Code Section 312.5, and require any person operating a Class 2 e-bike to wear a helmet The City Council adopted Ordinance 1724.
G.5. Adopt Ordinance 1725 amending Novato Municipal Code (“NMC”) Chapter XIX (Zoning) Division 19.34 (Standards for Specific Land Uses) to establish Section 19.34.029 specifying standards for Senate Bill 9 dwelling units (“SB 9 Dwelling Units”) and amend NMC Chapter IX (Land Subdivision) to establish Section 9-8 specifying standards for Urban Lot Splits, including associated modifications to Municipal Code Sections 19.10.040 (Residential Zoning District General Development Standards), 19.30.040 (Number of Parking Spaces Required), 19.58.020 (Notice of Public Hearing or Discretionary Action), 19.60.020 (Definitions of Specialized Terms and Phrases), and 9-5.023 (Definitions - Words or Terms Beginning with “U”) to comply with California Government Code Sections 65852.21 and 66411.7, finding the amendments to be exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality (“CEQA”) pursuant to Government Code Section 65852.21(k) and 66411.7(n) and Public Resources Code Section 21080.17, and repealing City Council Urgency Ordinance No. 1678 The City Council adopted Ordinance 1725.
G.6. Receive and file a letter of opposition to Senate Bill 445 (Wiener) signed by the Mayor sent in response to a League of California Cities Action Alert The City Council received and filed the letter.
G.7. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager or their designee to execute Amendment No. 1 to Agreement 5629 extending the services provided by Bureau Veritas North America Inc. for continued assistance with the Permit Center Division for a not exceed amount of $200,000 ending on June 30, 2026
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-060.
G.8. Introduce an ordinance amending Section 2-29 of the Novato Municipal Code establishing an Administrative Remedies Procedure for Challenges to Fees, Charges, and Assessments and finding the ordinance exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
The City Council introduced Ordinance 1726.
G.9. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to amend agreement 5419 with Whitlock & Weinberger Transportation, Inc. by adding an additional $30,000 for a total not to exceed $230,000 for their professional services agreement ending on October 30, 2025
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-061.
G.10. Adopt resolutions to authorize the City Manager or designee to approve the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Novato Police Civilian Employees Association (Unit H) and Compensation plans for the Engineers Unit (Unit E), Confidential Employees (Unit F), and Exempt Management (Unit G) for the period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2028, update the Personnel Rules & Regulations, and update the salary schedules for the Novato Police Civilian Employees Association (Unit H), the Engineers (Unit E), Confidential Employees (Unit F), and Exempt Management (Unit G) and amend the FY 2025/26 Operating Budget adopted June 24, 2025 (Resolution 2025-055)
The City Council adopted Resolutions No. 2025-062, 2025-063 and 2025-064.
G.11. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager or their designee to execute a second amendment to Professional Services Agreement 5471 with Krisch & Company Accounting Corporation to extend services through June 30, 2026, updating scope of services and fee schedule, and adding an additional $51,000 to increase the not-to-exceed amount to $125,000 The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-065.
H. UNFINISHED AND OTHER BUSINESS
There were no items listed for this section.
I. PUBLIC HEARINGS
I.1. Hold a public hearing and consider adopting a resolution adopting a Mitigated Negative Declaration and a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for the Olive Avenue Widening and Utility Undergrounding Project (SCH# 2025060166), CIP Project No.: 97-001 under the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
Associate Engineer Petr Skala presented the item along with Assistant City Manager Bill Rose and Rob Carnachan, Senior Environmental Planner for WRA, Inc.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember Milberg, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to adopt the resolution adopting a Mitigated Negative Declaration and a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for the Olive Avenue Widening and Utility Undergrounding Project (SCH# 2025060166), CIP Project No.: 97-001 under the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) AYES: EKLUND, JACOBS, MILBERG, FARAC, O’CONNOR
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-066.
I.2. Hold a public hearing and consider introducing an ordinance to add Section 4-4 to Chapter IV of the Novato Municipal Code to adopt and incorporate by reference the Uniform Code for Abatement of Dangerous Buildings (1997) and finding the adoption of the ordinance exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Community Development Director Clare Hartman gave the presentation.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Milberg and seconded by Councilmember Jacobs, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to introduce the ordinance to add Section 4-4 to Chapter IV of the Novato Municipal Code to adopt and incorporate by reference the Uniform Code for Abatement of Dangerous Buildings (1997) and finding the adoption of the ordinance exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
AYES: EKLUND, JACOBS, MILBERG, FARAC, O’CONNOR
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council introduced Ordinance No. 1727.
J. GENERAL BUSINESS
There were no items for this section.
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 7:33pm, the City Council adjourned the meeting in memory of Ozzy Osbourne.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and adopted at the Novato City Council regular meeting of August 26, 2025.
/Laura McDowall/
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Laura McDowall, City Clerk