NOVATO CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
December 3, 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 and Councilmember Kevin Jacobs DISTRICT 5 SEAT: Vacant
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Amy Cunningham, City Attorney Gary Bell and City Clerk Laura McDowall
B. CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT
There was no closed session.
C. CEREMONIAL MATTERS/PRESENTATIONS
There were no items listed for this section.
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.
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
None.
G. CONSENT CALENDAR
There were no items listed for this section.
H. UNFINISHED AND OTHER BUSINESS
There were no items listed for this section.
I. PUBLIC HEARINGS
There were no items listed for this section.
J. GENERAL BUSINESS
J.1. Hold interviews of applicants for the vacant City Council seat for District 5 and possibly appoint, direct the City Clerk to administer the Oath of Office and seat an eligible person to serve as Councilmember to fill the seat until an eligible person is elected at the City’s next general election to be held on November 3, 2026, and sworn into office
City Clerk Laura McDowall opened the item, and the City Council interviewed the following candidates, with a recess taken between 6:56 p.m. and 7:03 p.m.:
1. Sean Gentry
2. Sandeep Karkal
3. Josh Smith
4. Bradley Wright
The City Council thanked all the candidates for their interest in serving on the City Council and encouraged them to stay engaged with the community.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Susan Wernick
There was consensus from the Council that Sandeep Karkal should be appointed to represent the City Council Seat for District 5.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Mayor Pro Tem Farac and seconded by Councilmember Jacobs, the City Council voted 4-0 via roll call to appoint Sandeep Karkal as the City Councilmember for District 5.
AYES: EKLUND, JACOBS, FARAC, O’CONNOR
NOES: NONE
Motion carried.
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 meeting was adjourned at 7:48 p.m.
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