NOVATO CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
January 27, 2026 – 6:00 PM
A. CONVENE, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND ROLL CALL
The City Council meeting was called to order at 6:01 p.m., with Mayor Farac leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Rachel Farac, Councilmember Pat Eklund, Councilmember Sandeep Karkal and Councilmember Tim O’Connor COUNCIL ABSENT: Mayor Pro Tempore Kevin Jacobs
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Amy Cunningham, Finance Director Carla Carvalho-DeGraff, AP Supervisor Polo Lopez Carrasco, 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.
C. CEREMONIAL MATTERS/PRESENTATIONS
C.1. Presentation: Gymnastics Boosters Donation
Carrie Walsh, Novato Gymnastics Boosters President presented the donation to Parks, Recreation and Community Services staff members Alexandra Kambur and Perry Siu.
D. APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember Karkal, the City Council voted 4-0-1 via roll call to approve the Final Agenda, with Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs absent.
AYES: EKLUND, KARKAL, O’CONNOR, FARAC
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: JACOBS
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. Curtis Aikens
G. CONSENT CALENDAR
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember O’Connor and seconded by Councilmember Karkal, the City Council voted 4-0-1 via roll call to approve the Consent Calendar, with Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs absent.
AYES: EKLUND, KARKAL, O’CONNOR, FARAC
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: JACOBS
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 meeting minutes of January 13, 2026 The City Council approve the meeting minutes of January 13, 2026.
G.3. Adopt a resolution authorizing Police Department staff to apply for, and accept if approved, a Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for up to $178,500 in grant funds
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-004.
G.4. Adopt a resolution authorizing Police Department staff to apply for, and accept if approved, the California Highway Patrol’s FY 2026/27 Cannabis Tax Fund Grant (CTFG) Program for up to $130,000 in grant funds The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-005.
G.5. Adopt a resolution accepting the work as complete and authorizing the City Manager or her designee to sign the Notice of Completion for the Margaret Todd Senior Center Roof Replacement and the Downtown Recreation Center/Novato Gymnastics Center Roof Replacement (DRC) projects, Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) 19-006 and 24-004
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-006.
G.6. Receive and file the progress report on the fourth quarter 2025 of the Council adopted Strategic Plan
The City Council received and filed the report.
G.7. Adopt a resolution authorizing Good City Company and Strategic Economics, Inc. to examine confidential sales, use, and transaction tax records maintained by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) for the City, solely for purposes related to preparation of the City’s Economic Development Strategic Plan, and approve an amendment to the existing agreement with Good City Company to add Strategic Economics, Inc. as a party to the agreement and apply required contractual provisions to Strategic Economics, Inc The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-007.
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. Receive and file the City of Novato Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024/2025 and adopt a resolution authorizing a transfer of Emergency and Disaster Response Reserve Funds (EDRF – Fund 116) to the general fund to replenish the negative unassigned fund balance in the general fund in the amount of $94,121
Finance Director Carla Carvalho-DeGraff and AP Supervisor Polo Lopez Carrasco presented the item and responded to Council questions along with Justin Williams from MUN CPAs.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember Karkal, the City Council voted 4-0-1 via roll call to receive and file the report and adopt the resolution authorizing a transfer of Emergency and Disaster Response Reserve Funds (EDRF – Fund 116) to the general fund to replenish the negative unassigned fund balance in the general fund in the amount of $94,121, with Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs absent.
AYES: EKLUND, KARKAL, O’CONNOR, FARAC
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: JACOBS
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-008.
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 adjourned the meeting at 7:10 p.m.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and adopted at the Novato City Council regular meeting of February 10, 2026. /Laura McDowall/
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Laura McDowall, City Clerk