Page | 1 Phone No. (415) 899-8900
novato.org Fax No. (415) 899-8213
City Council
Agenda
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
Tuesday, January 13, 2026 - 6:00 PM
Mayor
Rachel Farac
Mayor Pro Tempore
Kevin Jacobs
Councilmembers
Pat Eklund
Sandeep Karkal
Tim O’Connor
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. 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.
Supplemental Materials
Public Participation Options
Members of the Public may participate and provide public comments for the City Council as follows:
• 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. • In-person public comments may be made at the meeting, which are held in the Novato City Council Chambers located at 901 Sherman Avenue.
Page | 2 Phone No. (415) 899-8900
novato.org Fax No. (415) 899-8213
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 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
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. Approve the closed and open session City Council Meeting Minutes of November 18, 2025
Staff contact: Laura McDowall, City Clerk, 899-8986
Minutes - November 18, 2025
Page | 3 Phone No. (415) 899-8900
novato.org Fax No. (415) 899-8213
G.3. Approve the City Council Special Meeting Minutes of December 3, 2025 Staff contact: Laura McDowall, 899-8900
Minutes - December 3, 2025
G.4. Approve the City Council meeting minutes of December 9, 2025 Staff contact: Laura McDowall, City Clerk, 899-8986
Minutes - December 9, 2025
G.5. Approve the City Council meeting minutes of December 16, 2025 Staff contact: Laura McDowall, City Clerk, 899-8986
Minutes - December 16, 2025
G.6. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager or her designee to enter into a five-year agreement with Axon Enterprises in the total amount of $1,040,208.91 for body worn cameras, fleet cameras, TASER devices, drone technology, and related digital evidence storage
Staff contact: Jim Naugle, Chief of Police, 415-897-4361 Staff Report - Axon Agreement
Attachment 1 - Draft Resolution
Attachment 2 - Axon Enterprises Quote & Purchasing Agreement G.7. Receive and file the City of Novato’s second quarter payment register report for the months of October, November, and December 2025
Staff contact: Polo Lopez-Carrasco, Accountant II, 899-8900 Staff Report - Second Quarter Payment Register
Attachment 1 - 2nd Quarter Payment Register
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 to consider an appeal of the Community Development Director’s decision to approve the Gallardo Heritage Tree Removal and consider adopting a resolution approving, modifying, or disapproving the Director’s decision to issue a tree removal permit for the property at 1294 Parkwood Drive, APN 152-143-08, and finding this action to be exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(B)(3
Staff contact: David Ayala, Planner I, 899-8900
Staff Report - Tree Removal Permit Appeal
Attachment 1 - Draft Resolution
Attachment 2 - Appeal Statement
Attachment 3 - Arborist Report
Attachment 4 - Applicant Photos
Page | 4 Phone No. (415) 899-8900
novato.org Fax No. (415) 899-8213
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. Adopt a resolution awarding the professional services contract for the Economic Development Strategic Plan in the amount of $145,500 to Good City Company as the consultant selected from the Request for Proposals received October 20, 2025, authorizing the City Manager to execute the contract and directing that an operating budget amendment of $145,500 be included in the FY 2025/26 mid-year budget report
Staff contact: Carla Hansen, Assistant City Manager, 899-8900 Staff Report - Econ Dev Strategic Plan Agreement
Attachment 1 - Draft Resolution
Attachment 2 - Professional Services Agreement w/Scope of Work Presentation
J.2. Consider, review, assign, and/or reassign City Council members to serve on various regional, state and local commissions, committees and boards Staff contact: Laura McDowall, City Clerk, 899-8900
Staff Report - Council Committee Assignments
Attachment 1 - Council Committee Appointment Chart
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. There are no agenda items.
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 Thursday before the Council meeting of January 13, 2026, the 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
Page |
5 Phone No. (415) 899-8900
novato.org Fax No. (415) 899-8213