NOVATO CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
November 18, 2025 – 6:00 PM
A. CONVENE, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND ROLL CALL
The City Council meeting was called to order at 6:00 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 and Councilmember Kevin Jacobs DISTRICT 5: Vacant
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Amy Cunningham, Assistant City Manager Bill Rose, Economic Development Manager Katie Skjerping, Sustainability Coordinator II Gretchen Schubeck, 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; there was nothing to report out. The City Council held another closed session upon adjournment of the open session.
C. CEREMONIAL MATTERS/PRESENTATIONS
C.1. Native American Heritage Month Proclamation
Dean Hoaglin, President of the Board for the Museum of the American Indian accepted the proclamation.
C.2. National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month Proclamation
Lauren Vreeland-Long accepted the proclamation along with Alzheimer’s Association volunteers and local caregivers.
D. APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember Jacobs, the City Council voted 4-0 via roll call to approve the Final Agenda, with District 5 vacant.
AYES: EKLUND, JACOBS, FARAC, O’CONNOR
NOES: NONE
Motion carried.
E. REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL & CITY MANAGER
The City Council gave reports on meetings and events they had attended.
F. PUBLIC COMMENT
1. Serena Fisher
2. Janine Bradley
3. Julie Manson
4. Alan Gump
5. Dale White
G. CONSENT CALENDAR
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Mayor Pro Tem Farac and seconded by Councilmember Jacobs, the City Council voted 4-0 via roll call to approve the Consent Calendar, with District 5 vacant.
AYES: EKLUND, JACOBS, 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 special meeting minutes of October 17, 2025 The City Council approved the special meeting minutes of October 17, 2025.
G.3. Approve the City Council meeting minutes of October 28, 2025 The City Council approve the meeting minutes of October 28, 2025.
G.4. Adopt ordinance 1728 to modify the radar enforceable speed limit along specific segments of Alameda Del Prado, DeLong Avenue and Ignacio Boulevard and find the modification exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA guidelines Section 15061(b)(3)
The City Council adopted Ordinance 1728.
G.5. Adopt ordinance 1729 repealing Section 4-1 of Chapter 4 (Building and Housing) of the Novato Municipal Code in its entirety and reenacting a new Section 4-1 to adopt by reference parts 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 of the 2025 California Building Standards Code as amended; adopting by reference the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code; adopting by reference the 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code as the Construction and Abatement Codes of the City of Novato; making Findings of Fact based on local conditions in support of the amendments; and adding new Section 4.5 Gate Safe Safety
The City Council adopted Ordinance 1729.
G.6. Adopt ordinance 1730 amending the Novato Zoning Map to change the zoning of a 10-acre portion of APN 157-160-18 from Open Space (OS) to Conservation (CON-10)
The City Council adopted Ordinance 1730.
G.7. Adopt a resolution accepting the work as complete and authorizing the City Manager or his / her designee to sign the Notice of Completion for the Underground Fuel Tank Removal and Replacement, CIP No. 22-002 The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-099.
G.8. Adopt a resolution authorizing acceptance of subdivision improvements for the subdivision known as the Verandah at Valley Oaks Condominium Development at 7711 Redwood Boulevard in accordance with the Subdivision Improvement Agreement (SIA) for the project and authorize the release of the associated security
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-100.
G.9. Receive and file the list of upcoming and to be determined City Council agenda items for the fourth quarter of 2025
The City Council received and filed the list.
G.10. Adopt a resolution approving the Sustainability Commission Work Plan for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 and receive the Commission’s Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2024-25
The City Council adopted Resolution 2025-101.
G.11. Receive and file the Quarter 4 Fiscal Year 2024/25 Budget Performance Report
The City Council received and filed the report.
G.12. Receive and file the Investment Report for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025/26 Quarter 1 The City Council received and filed the report.
G.13. Adopt a resolution approving the updated minimum wage and the City of Novato Salary Schedule for FY 2025/26
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-102.
H. UNFINISHED AND OTHER BUSINESS
There were no items listed for this section.
I. PUBLIC HEARINGS
I.1. Consider completing the annual assessment process for the Downtown Novato Business Improvement District (BID) in partnership with the Downtown Novato Business Association (DNBA) by:
1. Holding a public hearing; and
2. Adopting a resolution confirming the DNBA/BID 2025 Annual Report and 2026 Budget as modified by the Council during their October 28, 2025 meeting, thereby authorizing the levy and collection of assessments within the Downtown Novato Business Improvement District for calendar year 2026
Economic Development Manager Katie Skjerping presented the item.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Rob Sundberg
2. Tief Gibbs
3. Stephanie Koehler
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Mayor Pro Tem Farac and seconded by Councilmember Jacobs, the City Council voted 4-0 via roll call to adopt the resolution confirming the DNBA/BID 2025 Annual Report and 2026 Budget as modified by the Council during their October 28, 2025 meeting, thereby authorizing the levy and collection of assessments within the Downtown Novato Business Improvement District for calendar year 2026, with District 5 vacant.
AYES: EKLUND, JACOBS, FARAC, O’CONNOR
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-103.
I.2. Consider holding a public hearing and adopting a resolution making findings pursuant to Government Code Section 4217.10 et seq. and approving a sole-source energy services contract with EcoGreen Solutions, Inc. for energy efficiency improvements at City-owned facilities and holding a public hearing and authorizing the City Manager to execute PG&E On-Bill Financing (OBF) Agreements and related documents
CEQA: Exempt pursuant to section 15301 (existing facilities), 15302 (replacement or reconstruction), 15307 (protection of natural resources) and 15308 (protection of the environment)
Gretchen Schubeck, Sustainability Coordinator II presented the item and responded to City Council questions along with Assistant City Manager Bill Rose and Andy Garcia, a representative from Eco Green Solutions.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Jacobs and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Farac, the City Council voted 4-0 via roll call to adopt the resolution making findings pursuant to Government Code Section 4217.10 et seq. and approving a sole-source energy services contract with EcoGreen Solutions, Inc. for energy efficiency improvements at City-owned facilities, with District 5 vacant.
AYES: EKLUND, JACOBS, FARAC, O’CONNOR
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-104.
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 6:56 pm, the City Council adjourned the meeting in memory of Robert Bruce Levin and Phil Brown.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and adopted at the Novato City Council regular meeting of January 13, 2026. /Laura McDowall/
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Laura McDowall, City Clerk