NOVATO CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
and
TELECONFERENCE
September 23, 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. City Clerk Laura McDowall called roll and Councilmember Eklund confirmed there was no one in the room with her over the age of 18.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Tim O’Connor, Mayor Pro Tempore Rachel Farac, and Councilmember Kevin Jacobs
COUNCIL PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE: Councilmember Pat Eklund COUNCIL ABSENT: Councilmember Mark Milberg
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Amy Cunningham, Assistant City Manager Bill Rose, Community Development Director Clare Hartman, Sustainability Coordinator II Gretchen Schubeck, City Attorney Gary Bell and City Clerk Laura McDowall
B. CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT
There was no closed session.
C. CEREMONIAL MATTERS/PRESENTATIONS
C.1. Receive a presentation from Marin Municipal Water District on the Atmospheric River Capture Project
Paul Sellier, Water Resources Director and Lucy Croy, Water Resources Manager from Marin Municipal Water District gave the presentation.
C.2. Bully Prevention Month Proclamation
Multicultural Advisory Commission Chair Pamela Luk accepted the proclamation.
D. APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Mayor Pro Tem Farac and seconded by Councilmember Jacobs, the City Council voted 4-0-1 via roll call to approve the Final Agenda.
AYES: EKLUND, JACOBS, FARAC, O’CONNOR
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: MILBERG
Motion carried.
E. REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL & CITY MANAGER
The City Council gave reports on meetings and events they had attended. There was no report from City Manager Amy Cunningham.
F. PUBLIC COMMENT
1. Bryna Holland
2. Tom Jordan
3. Carrie Ford
4. Heidi Merchen
5. Jason Sarris
6. Debra Butler
7. Michael Robert
8. Bambi Klyse
9. Robbie Powelson
10. Michael Williams
G. CONSENT CALENDAR
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember Jacobs the City Council voted 4-0-1 via roll call to approve the Consent Calendar.
AYES: EKLUND, JACOBS, FARAC, O’CONNOR
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: MILBERG
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 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)
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-080.
G.3. Adopt the City Council meeting schedule for 2026, holding a regular City Council meeting every second and fourth Tuesday with certain exceptions The City Council adopted the City Council meeting schedule for 2026.
G.4. Receive and file the progress report on the second quarter 2025 of the Council adopted Strategic Plan
The City Council received and filed the report.
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
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-081.
G.6. Adopt a resolution approving the new classification of Systems Engineer in the Information Technology (IT) division and approve an updated salary schedule
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-082.
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
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-083.
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 The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-084.
G.9. 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.
H. UNFINISHED AND OTHER BUSINESS
There were no items listed for this section.
I. PUBLIC HEARINGS
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 Assistant City Manager Bill Rose opened the item and Gretchen Schubeck, Sustainability Coordinator II gave the presentation along with Christine O’Rouke from O’Rouke and Associates who was joining via teleconference.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Erin Ashley
2. Pablo Downer Paster
3. Stella Downer Paster
4. Erica Durwood
5. Bob Brown
6. Silke Valentine
7. Cheryl Timoney
8. Nicole Tai
9. Claudia Craig
10. Annalise Basch
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 adopt 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
AYES: EKLUND, JACOBS, FARAC, O’CONNOR
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: MILBERG
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-085 and Resolution No. 2025-086.
J. GENERAL BUSINESS
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
Community Development Director Clare Hartman presented the item and responded to Council questions.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
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 9:03 p.m.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and adopted at the Novato City Council regular meeting of October 28, 2025. /Laura McDowall/
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Laura McDowall, City Clerk