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** AMENDED AGENDA**
City Council
Agenda
Tuesday, September 23, 2025 - 6:00 PM
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
and
TELECONFERENCE
Mayor
Tim O’Connor
Mayor Pro Tempore
Rachel Farac
Councilmembers
Pat Eklund
Kevin Jacobs
Mark Milberg
City Manager
Amy Cunningham
City Attorney
Gary Bell
City Council meeting are usually held each month on the second and fourth Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m.
Pursuant to the provisions of AB 2449, this meeting will be held both in-person and by teleconference.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk at (415) 899-8986. Notification at least 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable accommodation to help ensure accessibility to this meeting.
The agenda is divided into three main sections and includes other categories covering routine business.
All references to “City Council” include those other agencies which may be listed at the top of the Agenda.
The City Council may discuss and/or take action on any or all of the items listed on the agenda irrespective of how the agenda items are described. The Council may establish and make appointments to a Council committee (made up of two Councilmembers) with respect to any item appearing on this agenda.
*This agenda has been amended to add Zoom Teleconference information and a Consent Calendar item to allow Councilmember Eklund to participate remotely under AB 2449 Page | 2 Phone No. (415) 899-8900
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Supplemental Materials
Public Participation/Comment Instructions
Members of the Public may participate and provide public comments to teleconference meetings as follows:
• In-person public comments may be made at the meeting which will be held at the address above. • Written public comments may be submitted via eComment. Written public comments received more than 3 hours before the start of the meeting will be distributed to the Council prior to the meeting.
Written public comments will not be read during the meeting. • Spoken public comments will be accepted through the Zoom meeting platform and via telephone.
To address the Council orally, please read and follow the following instructions carefully:
1. Join the meeting at: http://bit.ly/48ozTMU
or
Join at Zoom.com
Meeting ID: 875 8243 4491
Password: 1960
Should the links above not work, please go to www.novato.org/agendas for updated information a. You will be asked to enter an email address and name. We request that you identify yourself by name as this will be visible online and will be used to notify you when it is your turn to speak. b. When the Mayor calls for public comment on the item on which you wish to speak, please use the “Raise Hand” feature by clicking on the hand icon at the bottom of your screen to notify the Host that you would like to speak.
c. The Host will unmute speakers in turn. Speakers will be notified when it is their turn to speak. d. When called upon, please limit your remarks to the time limit allotted by the Mayor or as specified on the agenda. Speakers will be muted when their time is up.
2. Join the meeting via telephone by calling (646) 558-8656.
Meeting ID: 875 8243 4491
Password: 1960
a. When the Mayor calls for public comment on the item on which you wish to speak, press *9 to activate the “Raise Hand” feature to notify the Host that you would like to speak. b. The Host will unmute speakers in turn. Speakers will be notified when it is their turn to speak. c. When called upon, please limit your remarks to the time limit allotted by the Mayor or as specified on the agenda. Speakers will be muted when their time is up.
The Mayor has the authority to rule any speaker out of order, including speakers during the Public Comment period, if the subject raised is not within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City Council, or during a public hearing or a general business item if the speaker is not presenting testimony or evidence relevant to the matter or if the speaker becomes disruptive to the proceedings and conduct of the meeting.
The Mayor also has the authority to order any person who willfully interrupts the meeting to be removed.
All persons are expected to conduct themselves with civility and courtesy at all times. All persons giving comments shall speak directly to the Council and address issues, not individuals. Personal attacks, cursing Page | 3 Phone No. (415) 899-8900
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and outbursts from the audience in support or opposition to a speaker are not tolerated in order to foster an environment where everyone feels welcome to speak
A. CONVENE, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND ROLL CALL
B. CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT
C. CEREMONIAL MATTERS/PRESENTATIONS
C.1. Receive a presentation from Marin Municipal Water District on the Atmospheric River Capture Project
Presentation
C.2. Bully Prevention Month Proclamation
Bully Prevention Month Proclamation
D. APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA
E. REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL & CITY MANAGER
F. PUBLIC COMMENT
All members of the public wishing to address the City Council are requested to submit a speaker card in advance to the City Clerk. (Please remember that all comment cards are PUBLIC RECORDS).
The Mayor will call the names of speakers from the cards. In addition to receiving comment from the public during the Public Comment period, the Mayor will recognize persons from the audience who wish to address the City Council on a particular agenda item at the time that item is considered by the City Council. There is a three-minute time limit to speak although the Mayor may shorten the time based on the number of speakers or other factors. A speaker may not yield his or her time to another speaker. For issues raised during Public Comment that are not on the published agenda, except as otherwise provided under the Ralph M. Brown Act, no action can legally be taken. The City Council may direct that the item be referred to the City Manager for action or may schedule the item on a subsequent agenda.
G. CONSENT CALENDAR
All matters listed on the Consent Calendar are considered to be routine and will be enacted by a single vote of the Council. There will be no separate discussion unless specific items are removed from the Consent Calendar for separate discussion and action. Any Councilmember may remove an item from the Consent Calendar and place it under General Business for discussion.
G.1. Waive reading and authorize introductions and/or adoption of ordinances by title only this is a standard procedural action so that the City Council does not have to read an ordinance aloud in its entirety.
G.2. Adopt a resolution amending the Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Capital Improvement Program Budget (Reso 2025-055) to appropriate funding to CIP No. 17-004, Hoog Park Playground & Accessibility Enhancements Project in amount of $88,055 from Fund 237 Parks Measure A; and authorize the City Manager to execute a purchasing agreement for the resurfacing of existing park pathways, enhancements to the restroom facilities, slurry seal and restriping of the parking lot; and make findings of exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
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Staff contact: Katie Gauntlett, PRCS Director, 899-8900 Staff Report - Hoog Park Budget Amendment
Attachment 1 - Draft Resolution
G.3. Adopt the City Council meeting schedule for 2026, holding a regular City Council meeting every second and fourth Tuesday with certain exceptions Staff contact: Laura McDowall, City Clerk, 899-8900
Staff Report - 2026 City Council Meeting Schedule
Attachment 1 - Proposed Meeting Schedule
Attachment 2 - Resolution 2018-006
G.4. Receive and file the progress report on the second quarter 2025 of the Council adopted Strategic Plan
Staff contact: Amy Cunningham, City Manager, 899-8900
Staff Report - Strategic Plan Progress Report
Attachment 1 - Strategic Plan Updates through June 30 2025 Attachment 2 - Strategic Plan 2023-2025
G.5. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute a utility easement grant deed and agreement with North Marin Water District (NMWD) for the purpose of installing, operating, and maintaining underground utility infrastructure on three city-owned parcels located at the Homeward Bound of Marin - Workforce and Veteran Housing Project, 826 State Access Road (APN 157-970-05, 157-970-06 and 157-970-07 CEQA: categorically exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act
Staff contact: Timothy Burke, Interim Director of Public Works, 899-8246 Staff Report - NMWD Easements
Attachment 1 - Draft Resolution
Attachment 2 - Exhibit A Easement over APN 157-970-05
Attachment 3 - Exhibit B Easement over APN 157-970-06
Attachment 4 - Exhibit C Easement over APN 157-970-07
Attachment 5 - Vicinity Map
G.6. Adopt a resolution approving the new classification of Systems Engineer in the Information Technology (IT) division and approve an updated salary schedule
Staff contact: Greg Canfield, Human Resources Analyst, 899-8914 Staff Report - Systems Engineer
Attachment 1 - Draft Resolution
Attachment 2 - Job Description
Attachment 3 - Draft Salary Schedule
G.7. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager or designee to execute a cost share agreement with North Marin Water District for the Novato Boulevard Improvement Project, CIP #01-004
Staff contact: Elisa Sarlatte, Senior Civil Engineer, 899-8246 Staff Report - Novato Blvd Cost Share Agreement
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Attachment 1 - Draft Resolution
Attachment 2 - Draft Agreement
Attachment 3 - NMWD Board Meeting Minutes
G.8. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract for recreation services with North Bay Basketball Academy (NBBA), not to exceed $200,000 per fiscal year, beginning in Fiscal Year 2025/2026, with two, one-year options to extend Staff contact: Katie Gauntlett, PRCS Director, 899-8900 Staff Report - NBBA Agreement
Attachment 1 - Draft Resolution
Attachment 2 - Draft Agreement
G.9. Added 9/19/25: By motion, authorize Councilmember Eklund to participate remotely under AB 2449 due to an emergency circumstance H. UNFINISHED AND OTHER BUSINESS
There are no agenda items.
I. PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public Hearings are announced and advertised in advance to allow interested persons to make comments for, against, or otherwise, regarding a proposed project or decision. Anyone who challenges any hearing matter in court may be limited to only those issues raised at the public hearing described therein, or in written correspondence delivered to the City Council at, or prior to, the public hearing.
I.1. Conduct a public hearing and consider adopting a resolution approving an Addendum to the City of Novato General Plan 2035 Certified Environmental Impact Report and a resolution adopting the City of Novato Climate Action Plan 2030 and amending the Environmental Stewardship Chapter and repealing Appendix E of the City of Novato General Plan 2035 Staff contact: Gretchen Schubeck, Sustainability Coordinator II, 899-8900 Staff Report - Climate Action Plan Adoption
Attachment 1 - Draft Climate Action Plan 2030
Attachment 2 - Draft Climate Action Plan 2030 - Appendix A Attachment 3 - Planning Commission Resolution - CEQA Addendum Attachment 4 - Planning Commission Resolution - General Plan Amendments Attachment 5 - General Plan 2035 EIR Addendum
Attachment 6 - Draft Resolution - General Plan EIR Addendum Attachment 7 - General Plan Environmental Stewardship Text Amendments Attachment 8 - Draft Resolution - General Plan Amendments & CAP Adoption Presentation
J. GENERAL BUSINESS
These items include significant and administrative actions of special interest and will usually include a staff presentation and discussion by the Council. They will be acted upon by a separate vote.
J.1. Receive the Community Development Department’s Service Improvements Phase 3 September 2025 report regarding actions taken in response to the Building Division Organization Assessment report prepared by Baker Tilly US, LLC in March 2024
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Staff contact: Clare Hartman, Community Development Director Staff Report - Service Improvement Update
Attachment 1 - Baker Tilly Building Division Assessment Attachment 2 - Customer Satisfaction Survey Results
Attachment 3 - Presentation
K. COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES AND BOARDS (CCB’S) APPOINTMENTS This section is used by the City Council to make appointments to fill vacancy/vacancies on their Commissions, Committees and Boards.
L. WORK STUDY SESSION
There are no agenda items.
M. ADJOURNMENT
Materials that are submitted to members of the City Council after the distribution of the agenda packet will be made available to the public at the time it is provided to the City Council.
AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING
I, Laura McDowall, certify that on the Friday before the Council meeting of September 23, 2025, the amended agenda was posted on the City Community Service Board at 922 Machin Ave in Novato, California and on the City’s website at novato.org. /Laura McDowall/
Laura McDowall, City Clerk