NOVATO CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
January 13, 2026 – 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 Farac leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Rachel Farac, Mayor Pro Tempore Kevin Jacobs, Councilmember Pat Eklund, Councilmember Sandeep Karkal and Councilmember Tim O’Connor
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Amy Cunningham, Assistant City Manager Bill Rose, Deputy Community Development Director Steve Marshall, Economic Development Manager Katie Skjerping, Principal Planner Michael Smith, Planner I David Ayala, Assistant City Attorney Mackenzie Anderson 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 Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to approve the Final Agenda.
AYES: EKLUND, KARKAL, O’CONNOR, JACOBS, FARAC
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
None.
G. CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember Sandeep Karkal announced he would be abstaining from Item G.2, the City Council Meeting Minutes of November 18, 2025, and Item G.3, the City Council Meeting Minutes of December 3, 2025, because he was not on the City Council at that time.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember O’Connor, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to approve the Consent Calendar with Councilmember Karkal abstaining from Items G.2 and G.3.
AYES: EKLUND, KARKAL, O’CONNOR, JACOBS, FARAC
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 closed and open session City Council Meeting Minutes of November 18, 2025
The City Council approved the Closed and Open Session Meeting Minutes of November 18, 2025.
G.3. Approve the City Council Special Meeting Minutes of December 3, 2025 The City Council approved the Special Meeting Minutes of December 3, 2025.
G.4. Approve the City Council meeting minutes of December 9, 2025 The City Council approved the Meeting Minutes of December 9, 2025.
G.5. Approve the City Council meeting minutes of December 16, 2025 The City Council approved the Meeting Minutes of 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
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-001.
G.7. Receive and file the City of Novato’s second quarter payment register report for the months of October, November, and December 2025
The City Council received and filed the report.
H. UNFINISHED AND OTHER BUSINESS
There were no items listed for this section.
I. PUBLIC HEARINGS
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)
Planner I David Ayala, appellants Jimena Motta and Cody Clements and applicants Robert Bovero, Leticia Venegas de Gallardo and legal representative Paul Cohen gave presentations and rebuttals. Planner Ayala, Principal Planner Michael Smith, Assistant City Manager Bill Rose and Deputy Community Development Director Steve Marshall responded to Council questions along with the appellant and the applicant.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Martina Koeckritz
COUNCIL ACTION: Motion made by Councilmember O’Connor and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs, to adopt a resolution approving the Community Development Director’s decision to issue a tree removal permit for the property at 1294 Parkwood Drive, APN 152-143-08.
A friendly amendment was suggested by Councilmember Eklund to require a replacement tree that is of agreement between the property owners be planted, however the maker of the motion did not agree. Councilmember Eklund further suggested an amendment to have the City pay for an arborist, to which the maker of the motion also did not agree.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon substitute motion made by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Mayor Farac, the City Council voted 2-3 to require a replacement tree that is of agreement between the two property owners.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC
NOES: KARKAL, O’CONNOR, JACOBS,
Motion failed.
COUNCIL ACTION ON MAIN MOTION: Upon motion by Councilmember O’Connor and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs, the City Council voted 4- 1 via roll call to adopt a resolution approving the Community Development 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), with Councilmember Eklund voting No.
AYES: KARKAL, O’CONNOR, JACOBS, FARAC
NOES: EKLUND
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-002.
J. GENERAL BUSINESS
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
Economic Development Manager Katie Skjerping presented the item along with Sabina Mora from Good City Company who was joining via teleconference.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Stephanie Koehler
2. Denise Athas
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs and seconded by Councilmember O’Connor, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to adopt the 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.
AYES: EKLUND, KARKAL, O’CONNOR, JACOBS, FARAC
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-003.
The City Council took a brief recess between 7:32 p.m. and 7:43 p.m.
J.2. Consider, review, assign, and/or reassign City Council members to serve on various regional, state and local commissions, committees and boards City Clerk Laura McDowall opened the item, and the City Council discussed the appointments. There was consensus that Councilmember O’Connor should serve on the Community Development Agency Countywide Priority Setting Committee, and that Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs should serve as the regular member for the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) Board.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
Both Councilmember Eklund and Councilmember Karkal expressed interest in serving as the regular member on the North Bay Watershed Association Board, and it was suggested that Councilmember Karkal serve as the regular member and Councilmember Eklund serve as the alternate.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember O’Connor and seconded by Councilmember Jacobs, the City Council voted 4-1 via roll call to have Councilmember Karkal be the primary member and Councilmember Eklund be the alternate on the North Bay Watershed Association Board, and to make the other appointments, as presented, with Councilmember Eklund voting No.
AYES: KARKAL, O’CONNOR, JACOBS, FARAC
NOES: EKLUND
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
At 7:52 p.m., the City Council adjourned the meeting in memory of Michael Maendl.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and adopted at the Novato City Council regular meeting of January 27, 2026. /Laura McDowall/
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Laura McDowall, City Clerk