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City Council
Agenda
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
Tuesday, April 14, 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.
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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
C.1. Proclamation: Autism Acceptance Month
Autism Acceptance Month
C.2. Proclamation: Fair Housing Month
Fair Housing Month
D. APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA
E. REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL & CITY MANAGER
E.1. Councilmember Eklund Proposed Agenda Item: Agendize a discussion on a proposal to vacate City easements and explore other permitting issues on Lauren Avenue
Councilmember Eklund Proposed Agenda Item
E.2. Reports from the City Manager and City Council
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.
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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 City Council closed and open session meeting minutes of March 24, 2026
Staff contact: Laura McDowall, City Clerk, 899-8986
Minutes - March 24, 2026
G.3. Adopt ordinance 1732 amending the McPhail’s Commercial Office Development Master Plan to modify the permitted and conditionally permitted land uses allowed at 5400 Hanna Ranch Road
Staff contact: Terri Brown, Assistant City Clerk, 899-8900 Staff Report - Ordinance 1732 Adoption
Attachment 1 - Ordinance 1732
G.4. Adopt ordinance 1733 amending Novato Municipal Code provisions related to City Council compensation, increasing the monthly salary for Council members from $400 to $1,552, with the new rate to become effective after the next general municipal election in accordance with State law Staff contact: Terri Brown, Assistant City Clerk, 899-8900 Staff Report - Ordinance 1733 Adoption
Attachment 1 - Ordinance 1733
G.5. Receive and file the City of Novato’s third quarter payment register report for the months of January, February, and March 2026
Staff contact: Polo Lopez-Carrasco, Accountant II, 899-8900 Staff Report - 3rd Quarter Payment Register
Attachment 1 - 3rd Quarter Payment Register
G.6. Adopt a resolution approving updates to the City of Novato Salary Schedule for part-time Parks, Recreation, and Community Services (PRCS) classifications, including Recreation Leader I, II, and III, as well as Head Lifeguard, Lifeguard, and Swim Instructor
Staff contact: Greg Canfield, Human Resources Analyst, 899-8900 Staff Report - Part-Time PRCS Salary Schedule Update
Attachment 1 - Draft Resolution
Attachment 2 - Salary Schedule
G.7. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City’s participation in the Sixth National Opioid Settlement with the Six Remnant Defendants and delegating authority to the City Manager (or designee) to enter into future opioid Page | 4 Phone No. (415) 899-8900
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settlements under certain terms to preserve the City’s eligibility for funding and position the City to act promptly on future settlement opportunities Staff contact: Polo Lopez-Carrasco, Accountant II, 899-8900 Staff Report - Sixth Opioid Settlement
Attachment 1 - Draft Resolution
Attachment 2 - Eligible Opioid Abatement Programs
G.8. Adopt a resolution approving the plans and specifications and authorizing a bid advertisement for an alteration of the Olive Avenue Rail Crossing as a part of the Olive Avenue Widening and Utility Undergrounding Project, CIP Project No.: 97-001
Staff contact: Petr Skala, Associate Engineer, 899-8900 Staff Report - Olive Ave Rail Crossing Plans, Specs & Bid Attachment 1 - Draft Resolution
Attachment 2 - Vicinity Map
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. Hold a public hearing and receive and file an annual report in compliance with Assembly Bill 2561 regarding the City of Novato’s workforce vacancies, recruitment and retention efforts
Staff contact: Eva Hilliard, Chief People Officer, 899-8900 Staff Report - Recruitment and Retention Efforts
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. Receive a presentation and conduct a study session on Commercial Cannabis Retail Storefronts in alignment with Goal #20 in the Novato City Council Strategic Plan for July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2025, which states “Consider allowing licenses for Commercial Cannabis Storefront Retail” Staff contact: Clare Hartman, Community Development Director, 899-8900 Staff Report - Commercial Cannabis - Storefront Retail
Attachment 1 - Community Survey Results - All Respondents Attachment 2 - Community Survey Results - Novato Residents Attachment 3 - Market Analysis
Attachment 4 - Presentation
Attachment 5 - Public Correspondence
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J.2. Receive a presentation and discuss rectangular rapid-flashing beacon (RRFB) and new crosswalk location options and consider providing direction to staff on project scope and locations to include in the Fiscal Year 2026/27 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) budget
Staff contact: Chris Bengini, Public Works Director, 899-8900 Staff Report - Roadway & Pedestrian Safety Locations
Attachment 1 - Map of RRFB & New Crosswalk Locations
Presentation
L. WORK STUDY SESSION (taken out of order)
L.1. Receive information and provide direction on the Fiscal Year 2026/27 operating budget
Staff contact: Jennifer Maldonado, Principal Analyst, 899-8900 Staff Report - Operating Budget Study Session
Attachment 1 - Budget Planning Community Survey
Attachment 2 - Community Budget Priorities Survey Results Presentation
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.
K.1. Consider reviewing, discussing, and possibly making appointments to the following Commission Committee and Board seats: 3 regular seats on the Design Review Commission, 4 regular seats on the Housing and Homeless Committee, 2 regular seats on the Housing, Zoning and Building Code Appeals Board, 4 regular seats on the Multicultural Advisory Commission, 4 regular seats on the Planning Commission, 4 regular seats on the Police Advisory and Review Board and 5 regular seats on the Recreation, Cultural and Community Services Advisory Commission
Staff contact: Laura McDowall, City Clerk, 899-8900
Staff Report - CCB Appointments
Presentation
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 April 14, 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.gov.
/Laura McDowall/
Laura McDowall, City Clerk
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