NOVATO CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
February 10, 2026 – 6:00 PM
A. CONVENE, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND ROLL CALL
The City Council meeting was called to order at 6:03 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, Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Katie Gauntlett, City Attorney Gary Bell and City Clerk Laura McDowall
B. CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT
There was no closed session.
C. CEREMONIAL MATTERS/PRESENTATIONS
C.1. 2025 Small, Large and Micro Businesses of the Year Proclamations Patty Yu from South Novato Living, Susannah Nation from Moonstone Skincare and Jason Pech from Myan Tree Climbing Service accepted the proclamations.
C.2. Spirit of Novato Proclamation
Rob Sundberg accepted the proclamation.
D. APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember Karkal, 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
E.1. Councilmember O'Connor Proposed Agenda Item: Establish a Measure M– Funded Capital Improvement Project to Advance Roadway and Pedestrian Safety
Councilmember O’Connor presented his proposed item, and the City Council agreed it should move forward as a future agenda item.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Alejandro Reyes
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember Jacobs, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to add an agenda item to consider establishing a Measure M–Funded Capital Improvement Project to Advance Roadway and Pedestrian Safety.
AYES: EKLUND, KARKAL, O’CONNOR, JACOBS, FARAC
NOES: NONE
Motion carried.
E.2. Reports from the City Manager and City Council
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. Novato Citizen
G. CONSENT CALENDAR
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Karkal and seconded by Councilmember Jacobs, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to approve the Consent Calendar.
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 January 27, 2026
The City Council approved the closed and open session City Council meeting minute of January 27, 2026.
G.3. Receive and file the Investment Report for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025/26 Quarter 2 The City Council received and filed the report.
G.4. Approve the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026/27 budget calendar listing public meeting dates for the upcoming budget development process
The City Council approved the budget calendar.
G.5. Adopt a resolution establishing a Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit joint quiet zone across Marin and Sonoma Counties, designating the County of Sonoma as the lead authority for purposes of establishing the joint quiet zone and authorizing the Mayor to sign the agreement with the county of Sonoma
CEQA: Exempt pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3)
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-009.
G.6. Adopt a resolution in support of Novato becoming a National Wildlife Federation Certified Community Wildlife Habitat and renewal of the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-010.
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. Review and consider approving the first Amendment to the existing Agreement for Operation of the Novato History Museum at the Scott House (917 Sherman Avenue) between the City of Novato and the Novato Historical Guild; and adopt a resolution amending the Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Capital Improvement Program Budget (Reso 2025-055) to establish a new Capital Improvement Project, Scott House Rehabilitation
Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Katie Gauntlett presented the item and responded to Council questions along with Assistant City Manager Bill Rose and Novato Historical Guild member Jeanne MacLeamy.
It was explained that in alignment with City Council Policy Manual regarding loans, staff recommend revising Section 4.1 of the draft agreement amendment to read “The City shall not commence, authorize, or proceed with the procurement of design services unless and until no less than $341,000, have been actually collected, received, and deposited into the project bank account reserved for design costs” to align with available funding sources and to ensure the project remained on track with the timeline for delivery.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Denise Athas
2. Susan Wernick
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember O’Connor, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call approve the first amendment to the agreement, with the proposed changes, and to adopt the resolution amending the Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Capital Improvement Program Budget (Reso 2025-055) to establish a new Capital Improvement Project, Scott House Rehabilitation.
AYES: EKLUND, KARKAL, O’CONNOR, JACOBS, FARAC
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-011.
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 7:15 p.m. the City Council adjourned the meeting in memory of Bridgette O’Brien.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and adopted at the Novato City Council regular meeting of February 24, 2026.
/Laura McDowall/
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Laura McDowall, City Clerk