NOVATO CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
April 14, 2026 – 6:00 PM
A. CONVENE, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND ROLL CALL
The City Council meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m., with Mayor Farac leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Rachel Farac, Mayor Pro Tempore Kevin Jacobs, Councilmember Pat Eklund and Councilmember Tim O’Connor COUNCIL ABSENT: Councilmember Sandeep Karkal
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Amy Cunningham, Assistant City Manager Carla Hansen, Community Development Director Clare Hartman, Finance Director Carla Carvalho-DeGraff, Chief People Officer Eva Hilliard, Economic Development Manger Katie Skjerping, Principal Management Analyst Jennifer Maldonado, HR Analyst Greg Canfield, City Attorney Gary Bell and City Clerk Laura McDowall
B. CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT
There was no closed session.
C. CEREMONIAL MATTERS/PRESENTATIONS
C.1. Proclamation: Autism Acceptance Month
Katie Hughes and her daughter Emery, and Blaire Chaput accepted the proclamation.
C.2. Proclamation: Fair Housing Month
Elina Linna, Education Coordinator from Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California accepted the proclamation.
D. APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember O’Connor, the City Council voted 4-0-1 via roll call to approve the Final Agenda, with Councilmember Karkal absent.
AYES: EKLUND, O’CONNOR, JACOBS, FARAC
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: KARKAL
Motion carried.
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 presented the item and responded to Council questions.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Ronald Nelson
2. Derek Knell
3. Dan Zamberlin
It was agreed that the item should return at a future meeting.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember O’Connor, the City Council voted 4-0-1 via roll call to put the item on the first meeting in June, if possible, and if not then the second meeting in June, with Councilmember Karkal absent.
AYES: EKLUND, O’CONNOR, JACOBS, FARAC
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: KARKAL
Motion carried.
E.2. Reports from the City Manager and City Council
The City Council gave reports on meetings and events they had attended.
F. PUBLIC COMMENT
1. Lynn Wasley
2. Patty Hoyt
3. Matt Kratoville
4. Bernie Meyers
5. David Canyon
G. CONSENT CALENDAR
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs, the City Council voted 4-0-1 via roll call to approve the Consent Calendar, with Councilmember Karkal absent.
AYES: EKLUND, O’CONNOR, JACOBS, FARAC
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: KARKAL
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 City Council closed and open session meeting minutes of March 24, 2026
The City Council approved the meeting minutes.
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
The City Council adopted 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 The City Council adopted 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
The City Council received and filed the report.
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
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-024.
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 settlements under certain terms to preserve the City’s eligibility for funding and position the City to act promptly on future settlement opportunities The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-025.
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
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-026.
H. UNFINISHED AND OTHER BUSINESS
There were no items listed for this section.
I. PUBLIC HEARINGS
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
Assistant City Manager Carla Hansen opened the item and Chief People Officer Eva Hilliard gave the presentation along with HR Analyst Greg Canfield.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
J. GENERAL BUSINESS
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” Community Development Director Clare Hartman presented the item and responded to Council questions along with Economic Development Manager Katie Skjerping.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Elizabeth O’Donnel
2. Kelsey Hernandez
3. Oliver Rivas
4. Craig Litwin
5. Josh Lewis
6. Allie Behr
7. Alexandra Talbot
8. Michelle Leopold
9. Brett Goldman
10. Christine Miller
11. Brandon Levine
12. John Wright
13. Melissa Wahlstrom
14. Sarah Sorensen
15. Don Carney
16. Kate Rule
It was generally felt that the item should be continued to the next regularly scheduled meeting so that the full Council could be present.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember O’Connor and seconded by Councilmember Eklund, the City Council voted 4-0-1 via roll call to continue the item to the next regularly schedule meeting, with Councilmember Karkal absent
AYES: EKLUND, O’CONNOR, JACOBS, FARAC
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: KARKAL
Motion carried.
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
Public Works Director Chris Bengini presented the item.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Derek Knell
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember O’Connor and seconded by Councilmember Eklund, the City Council voted 4-0-1 via roll call to approve the project list as presented, with Councilmember Karkal absent.
AYES: EKLUND, O’CONNOR, JACOBS, FARAC
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: KARKAL
Motion carried.
L. WORK STUDY SESSION (reordered to take first)
L.1. Receive information and provide direction on the Fiscal Year 2026/27 operating budget
Finance Director Carla Carvalho-DeGraff and Principal Management Analyst Jennifer Maldonado presented the item and received feedback from Council.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
K. COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES AND BOARDS (CCB’S) APPOINTMENTS 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
City Clerk Laura McDowall presented the item and the City Council made the following appointments to their Commissions, Committees and Boards:
Design Review Commission: Michael Barber
Tim Curtin
Colm Keenan
Housing, Zoning and Building Code
Appeals Board:
Sara Lopez
Rex Mclean
Housing and Homeless Committee: Bryce Armbruster
Scott Evans
Lucie Hollingsworth
Donald Schroeder
Multicultural Advisory Commission: Derek Dela Cruz
Wesley Fink
Lawrence Meacham
Carlos Solis
Planning Commission: Justin Derby
Kevin Haroff
Curtis Havel
Peter Tiernan
Police Advisory and Review Board Bruce Bartel
Robert Brodnick
Francis Drouillard
Carlos Peña Hernandez
Recreation, Cultural and Community
Services Advisory Commission:
Suzanne Crow
Isha Dandavate
Erin Lacey
Jerome Saddler
Domenique Scioli
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs and seconded by Councilmember O’Connor, the City Council voted 4-0-1 via roll call to make the appointments, with Councilmember Karkal absent.
AYES: EKLUND, O’CONNOR, JACOBS, FARAC
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: KARKAL
Motion carried.
M. ADJOURNMENT
At 10:18 p.m. the City Council adjourned the meeting in memory of Steve Eklund, Nico Vargas and Colonel Bill Cope.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and adopted at the Novato City Council regular meeting of April 28, 2026.
/Laura McDowall/
___________________
Laura McDowall, City Clerk