NOVATO CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
December 9, 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, Councilmember Kevin Jacobs and Councilmember Sandeep Karkal
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Amy Cunningham, Interim Chief Building Official Mark Setterland, Deputy Director of Community Development Steve Marshall, Supervising Code Enforcement Officer Gary Beretta, Senior Planner Brett Walker, City Attorney Gary Bell and City Clerk Laura McDowall OUTSIDE COUNSEL PRESENT: Rick Jarvis, Jarvis Fay LLP
B. CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT
There was no closed session.
C. CEREMONIAL MATTERS/PRESENTATIONS
C.1. Swearing-in Ceremony: Sandeep Karkal, City Councilmember District 5 Mayor Tim O’Connor swore in Sandeep Karkal as the City Councilmember representing District 5.
D. APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Jacobs and seconded by Councilmember Eklund, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to approve the Final Agenda.
AYES: EKLUND, JACOBS, KARKAL, FARAC, O’CONNOR
NOES: NONE
Motion carried.
E. REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL & CITY MANAGER
City Manager Cunningham reported on various City matters and the City Council gave reports on meetings and events they had attended.
F. PUBLIC COMMENT
1. Matt Kratoville
G. CONSENT CALENDAR
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Farac, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to approve the Consent Calendar.
AYES: EKLUND, JACOBS, KARKAL, 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. Adopt a resolution ratifying Novato Fire Protection District Ordinance 2025-3 and 2025-4 adopting and amending the 2025 California Fire Code and the 2025 California Wildland Urban-Interface Codes as part of the construction and abatement codes of the City of Novato and finding this action to be exempt from environmental review under CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(B)(3)
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-105.
G.3. Receive and file the Quarter 1 Fiscal Year 2025/26 Budget Performance Report
The City Council received and filed the report.
G.4. Adopt a resolution approving amendments to the employment agreement between the City of Novato and Amy Cunningham
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-106.
H. UNFINISHED AND OTHER BUSINESS
There were no items listed for this section.
I. PUBLIC HEARINGS
I.1. Hold a public hearing regarding Building 12 at 6 Romar Court (Assessor’s Parcel No. 141-221-62) (“Building 12”). Before the City Council are two orders issued by the Housing and Building Code Appeals Board (“Board”):
1. Shall the City Council approve, disapprove, or amend the Board’s Order on Appeal of Novato Building Official’s Notice and Order to Vacate and Repair Building 12 at 6 Romar Court (Sep. 2, 2025) (“Board’s Order to Vacate”)?
2. Shall the City Council approve, disapprove, or amend the Board’s Order on Request for Nuisance Determination (Sep. 2, 2025) (“Board’s Nuisance Order”)?
Mayor O’Connor opened the public hearing. Deputy Community Development Director Steve Marshall gave a presentation and Emily Brough from ZFP Law presented on behalf of the property owner.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Amarantha Silva
2. Maria Pech
3. Jesus Patillo
4. Antonio Gramajo
5. Lucas Rodas
6. Jenni Gomez
7. Kira Shannen
8. Vilma Manzan
The City Council took a recess at 7:23 p.m. and returned to the dais at 7:30 p.m.
Both sides provided rebuttal arguments and responded to Council questions, along with Interim Chief Building Official Mark Setterland and Supervising Code Enforcement Officer Gary Berretta.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Farac, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to close the public hearing.
AYES: EKLUND, JACOBS, KARKAL, FARAC, O’CONNOR
NOES: NONE
Motion carried.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Mayor Pro Tem Farac and seconded by Mayor O’Connor, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to adopt the resolution (1) approving the Housing and Building Codes Appeals Board’s Order on Appeal of Novato Building Official’s Notice and Order to Vacate and Repair Building 12 at 6 Romar Court, (2) approving the Housing and Building Codes Appeals Board’s Order on Request for Nuisance Determination, both for 6 Romar Court (Building 12)(APN 141-221-62); and (3) Authorizing the City Attorney to seek enforcement of such orders and collection of costs in Superior Court, if necessary.
AYES: EKLUND, JACOBS, KARKAL, FARAC, O’CONNOR
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-107.
The City Council took a brief recess at 8:17 p.m. and reconvened at 8:24 p.m.
I.2. Hold a public hearing and consider adopting a resolution:
1. Amending the Safety Element of Novato General Plan 2035 regarding climate change adaptation and resiliency, the identification of residential developments with less than two evacuation routes, incorporating the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan in the General Plan by reference, and other edits for clarification and consistency with State regulations (collectively “Amendments”); and
2. Adopting a California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) Addendum to the Novato General Plan 2035 Certified Environmental Impact Report (“EIR”) and adopting findings thereto pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15164 for proposed amendments to the Safety Element of Novato General Plan 2035.
Senior Planner Brett Walker presented the item along with consultants Tammy Seal and Jacqueline Protsman Rohr from PlaceWorks.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Kay White
2. Neil Peterson
There was discussion regarding the Planning Commission’s recommendation to update the Residential Evacuation Constraint analysis from using a 10-unit threshold to use a 30-unit threshold and replace Figure CW-3 in the Safety Element. It was generally felt that the 10-unit threshold should be used.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Mayor Pro Tem Farac and seconded by Councilmember Karkal, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to adopt the resolution to amend the Safety Element of Novato General Plan 2035 to comply with Senate Bill 379, Senate Bill 99, Assembly Bill 747, and Assembly Bill 1409, incorporate the Marin County Multi-jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan by reference into the Safety Element, and adopt a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) addendum to the Novato General Plan 2035 Certified EIR for the amendments, with the change of adopting Figure CW-3 with the 10-unit threshold.
AYES: EKLUND, JACOBS, KARKAL, FARAC, O’CONNOR
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-108.
J. GENERAL BUSINESS
There were no items listed for this section.
K. COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES AND BOARDS (CCB’S) APPOINTMENTS K.1. Consider reviewing, discussing, and possibly making appointments to the following Commission Committee and Board seats: 3 regular seats on the Complete Streets and Pathways Oversight Committee, 2 alternate seats on the Design Review Commission, 3 regular seats on the Economic Development Advisory Commission, 3 regular seats on the Finance Advisory Commission, 1 regular seat on the Recreation, Cultural and Community Services Advisory Commission, and 2 regular seats on the Sustainability Commission
City Clerk Laura McDowall gave the presentation, and the City Council made the following appointments to their Commissions, Committees and Boards:
Complete Streets and Pathways
Oversight Committee:
Mark Birnbaum
Meherdad Namiranian
Casey Ward
Design Review Commission: Lui Galletto (alternate)
William Reichert (alternate)
Economic Development Advisory
Commission:
Christina Mendes
Susan Wernick
Bradley Wright
Finance Advisory Commission: Cris MacKenzie
Tina McMillan
Larisa Thomas
Recreation, Cultural and Community
Services Advisory Commission:
Jane Acker
Sustainability Commission: Nicole Tai
Meredith MacLean
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Jacobs
and seconded by Councilmember Karkal, the City Council
voted 5-0 via roll call to make the appointments.
AYES: EKLUND, JACOBS, KARKAL, FARAC, O’CONNOR
NOES: NONE
Motion carried.
L. WORK STUDY SESSION
There were no items for this section
M. ADJOURNMENT
The City Council adjourned the meeting at 9:27 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