NOVATO CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
and
Teleconference
August 26, 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 Kevin Jacobs, and Councilmember Mark Milberg COUNCIL PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE: Councilmember Pat Eklund STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Amy Cunningham, Community Development Director Clare Hartman, Human Resources Analyst Greg Canfield, 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. City Attorney Bell announced that the City Council voted 5-0 to initiate litigation. The particulars are available upon request, if that action is commenced.
C. CEREMONIAL MATTERS/PRESENTATIONS
C.1. Proclamation: Gosia Woodfin - 17 years of Service with City of Novato Gosia Woodfin accepted the proclamation.
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. UNFINISHED AND OTHER BUSINESS
There were no items listed for this section.
F. PUBLIC COMMENT
1. Serena Fisher
2. David Gray
3. Janine Bradley
4. Susan Hoff
5. Julie Manson
6. Gayle Atkinson
7. Sheri Smyth
8. Greg Smyth
9. Bill Davis
10. Alan Gump
11. Jay Shelfer
12. Carol-Joy Harris
13. Robert Belichick
14. Calvin Willhite
15. Brian Skinner
16. John Hansen
17. Stan Lappen
18. Margaret Siegried
19. Joan
20. Bryce Armbruster
G. CONSENT CALENDAR
It was clarified that a revised version of G.8, Attachment 2 had been provided to the City Council and made available to the public.
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, including the revisions to item G.8, Attachment 2.
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 July 22, 2025 The City Council approved the meeting minutes of July 22, 2025.
G.3. Adopt ordinance 1726 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 adopted Ordinance 1726.
G.4. Adopt ordinance 1727 adding section 4-4 to Chapter IV ("Building and Housing") of the Novato Municipal Code adopting the uniform code for the abatement of dangerous buildings
The City Council adopted Ordinance 1727.
G.5. Receive and file the Investment Report for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024/25 Quarter 4 The City Council received and filed the report.
G.6. Adopt a resolution accepting a $110,000 Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS); and amend the Operating Budget (Reso 2025-055) for Special Police Projects (Fund 231) to increase expenditures and revenues in the amount of the grant; and authorize the City Manager to execute the grant agreement and related operating budget adjustments
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-067.
G.7. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a reservation agreement for purchase of off-site mitigation bank credits at Halo Ranch and approve the down payment of $133,000 within 30 days of the effective date of the agreement for the Olive Avenue Widening and Utility Undergrounding Project, CIP Project No.: 97-001
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-068.
G.8. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an Amendment to an Exclusive Negotiation Agreement (ENA) by and between the City of Novato and The Sherman Group for City-Owned Properties at 900 Sherman Avenue (APN: 153-063-14) and 908 Sherman Avenue (APN: 153-063-15), granting an additional 9-month extension to the ENA to allow commencement of required studies and advancement of lease negotiations The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-069.
G.9. Adopt a resolution approving plans and specifications and authorizing bid advertisement for the roof replacement project at the Marin Valley Mobile County Club (MVMCC) and finding that the project is exempt from the requirements of CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15302, replacement or construction
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-070.
G.10. Adopt a resolution approving an amended and restated lease agreement between the City of Novato and the Novato Chamber of Commerce for continued use of the Carlile House property located at 853 Reichert Avenue The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-071.
G.11. Adopt a resolution approving and authorizing the Mayor to execute the City of Novato’s response to the Marin County Civil Grand Jury Report, titled The Worrisome Future of Marin Housing: NIMBY Resistance Takes a Backseat to Economic Reality, dated June 24, 2025, and authorize submittal to the Marin County Civil Grand Jury
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-072.
G.12. Adopt the resolutions authorizing the City Manager or designee to execute the Novato Police Managers Association (Unit A) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Novato Police Officers Association (Unit B) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) effective July 1, 2025, update the salary schedules for the Novato Police Managers Association (Unit A) and Novato Police Officers Association (Unit B) effective August 24, 2025, and amend the FY 2025/26 Operating Budget adopted June 24, 2025 (Resolution 2025-055)
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-073 and Resolution No. 2025-074.
G.13. By motion, authorize Councilmember Eklund to participate remotely under AB 2449 due to an emergency circumstance
The City Council authorized Councilmember Eklund to participate remotely under AB 2449 due to an emergency circumstance.
The City Council took a brief recess at 6:52 p.m. and returned at 7:04 p.m.
H. WORK STUDY SESSION
H.1. Receive a presentation, conduct a study session and consider providing direction to staff to inform the preparation of a local Just Cause Tenant Protections Ordinance, as a follow up to the direction already provided by the City Council on May 20, 2025
Community Development Director Clare Hartman gave the presentation and received feedback from the City Council.
The City Council took a recess at 8:14 p.m. and returned at 8:20 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Araceli Floran
2. Charlotte Gonnella
3. Kira Schaner
4. Jason Sarris
5. Erin Hawkins
6. Lucie Hollingsworth
7. Regina Bianucci Rus
8. Bambi Klyse
9. Ethan Strull
10. Norma Lara
11. Amarantha Silva
12. Darlin Ruiz
13. Antonio Gramajo
14. Vilma Monzon
15. Jesus Portillo
16. Joselin Ordonez
17. Veronica Hernadez
18. Veronica Duarte
19. Diego Celis
20. Armando Ordonez
21. Nelson Soliz
22. Freddy Lopez
I. PUBLIC HEARINGS
There were no items listed for this section.
J. GENERAL BUSINESS
J.1. Adopt a resolution amending the limited term retired annuitant appointment of Tim Burke as Interim Public Works Director under Government Code section 21221(h), adjusting his salary pursuant to the City’s current salary schedule and ratifying the amended Offer Letter and Extension Letter Human Resources Analyst Greg Canfield presented the item.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Milberg and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Farac the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to adopt the resolution amending the limited term retired annuitant appointment of Tim Burke as Interim Public Works Director under Government Code section 21221(h), adjusting his salary pursuant to the City’s current salary schedule and ratifying the amended Offer Letter and Extension Letter.
AYES: EKLUND, JACOBS, MILBERG, FARAC, O’CONNOR
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-075.
J.2. Consider and possibly take action to designate a voting representative and up to two alternate voting representatives for the League of California Cities (Cal Cities) Annual Conference General Assembly
City Clerk Laura McDowall opened the item. Kevin Jacobs was nominated to be the voting delegate, and Mark Milberg was nominated to be the alternate.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Farac, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to appoint Kevin Jacobs as the voting delegate and Mark Milberg as the alternate.
AYES: EKLUND, JACOBS, MILBERG, FARAC, O’CONNOR
NOES: NONE
Motion carried.
K. COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES AND BOARDS (CCB’S) APPOINTMENTS There were no items for this section.
L. REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL & CITY MANAGER
None
M. ADJOURNMENT
At 10:35 p.m., the City Council adjourned the meeting in memory of Diane Thompson.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and adopted at the Novato City Council regular meeting of September 9, 2025. /Laura McDowall/
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Laura McDowall, City Clerk