NOVATO CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
February 24, 2026 – 6:00 PM
A. CONVENE, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND ROLL CALL
The City Council meeting was called to order at 6:12 p.m., with members of Boy Scout Troop 73 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, Police Chief Jim Naugle, Assistant City Manager Bill Rose, Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Katie Gauntlett, Lieutenant Alan Bates, Economic Development Manager Katie Skjerping, 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. Proclamation: Citizen of the Year - Jennifer Goldfinger Jennifer Goldfinger accepted the proclamation.
C.2. Presentation: Paint the Town Red Youth Scholarship Program Donation Jennifer Goldfinger and Dale Kline presented the donation to Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Katie Gauntlett.
C.3. Proclamation: Marcia Basalla
Marcia Basalla 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
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. Jo Farrens
G. CONSENT CALENDAR
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Karkal and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem 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 ordinance aloud in their entirety.
G.2. Approve the City Council meeting minutes of February 10, 2026 The City Council approved the minutes of February 10, 2026.
G.3. Receive and file the list of upcoming and to be determined City Council agenda items for the first quarter of 2026
The City Council received and filed the list.
G.4. Receive and file the Multicultural Advisory Commission's 2025 Annual Report and approve the Multicultural Advisory Commission's 2026 Work Plan
The City Council received and filed the report and approved the 2026 Work Plan.
G.5. Adopt a resolution approving the creation of the Senior Gymnastics Instructor classification, updates to the Gymnastics Instructor classification, and an update to the City’s salary schedule within the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-012.
G.6. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Sidel & Pakravan Architects / Consulting Engineers for evaluation, and complete HVAC system redesign, in the sum of $249,514.10, which includes a 10% contingency for the HVAC replacement – police station, CIP project No. 26-006
CEQA: exempt per Section 15301 Existing Facilities
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-013.
G.7. Adopt a resolution approving the nominations by each Councilmember and the City Manager of three standby officers each to fill their positions if they are unavailable in the event of an emergency
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-14.
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 a presentation and file the Police Department Annual Report Police Chief Jim Naugle gave the presentation.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
J.2. Receive a presentation on and consider accepting the 10-month progress report for the alternative response program, Specialized Assistance for Everyone (SAFE) Team
Lieutenant Alan Bates gave the presentation and responded to Council questions along with Assistant City Manager Bill Rose and Aziz Majid, Director of SAFE Team for Petaluma People Services Center.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Karal and seconded by Councilmember Eklund, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to accept the report.
AYES: EKLUND, KARKAL, O’CONNOR, JACOBS, FARAC
NOES: NONE
Motion carried.
J.3. Receive a presentation of the Downtown Novato Business Association/Business Improvement District’s Revised 2026 Budget and adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Agreement for the Administration of the Downtown Novato Business Improvement District
Economic Development Manager Katie Skjerping presented the item and responded to questions from Council with Downtown Novato Business Association Executive Director Stephanie Koehler.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
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 first amendment to amended and restated agreement for the administration of the Downtown Business Association.
AYES: EKLUND, KARKAL, O’CONNOR, JACOBS, FARAC
NOES: NONE
Motion carried.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to adopt the resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Agreement for the Administration of the Downtown Novato Business Improvement District.
AYES: EKLUND, KARKAL, O’CONNOR, JACOBS, FARAC
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-015.
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 7:48 p.m., the City Council adjourned the meeting in memory of Kate Vitt, Kate Morse and Danielle Keatley.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and adopted at the Novato City Council regular meeting of March 10, 2026.
/Laura McDowall/
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Laura McDowall, City Clerk