NOVATO CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
April 28, 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, Councilmember Sandeep Karkal and Councilmember Tim O’Connor
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Amy Cunningham, Community Development Director Clare Hartman, Public Works Director Chris Benigni, Finance Director Carla Carvalho-DeGraff, Economic Development Manger 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. Novato Proud Recognition - San Marin HS Boys Varsity Basketball Team The San Marin High School Boys Varsity Basketball Team and their coaches accepted the recognition.
C.2. Proclamation: Rotary Club Ignacio 50th Anniversary Jennifer Goldfinger and members of Rotary Club Ignacio accepted the proclamation.
C.3. Proclamation: Muslim Appreciation and Awareness Month Members of the Islamic Center of North Marin accepted the proclamation.
D. APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember O’Connor and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Jacbos, 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. Alexander Dennis
2. Sophia Osotio
3. Amarantha Silva
4. Veronica Hernandez
5. Robert Bolero
6. Jason Pesch
G. CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember Pat Eklund and Mayor Rachel Farac announced they would be recusing themselves from item G.4 due to rental property that they owned.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs and seconded by Councilmember O’Connor, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to approve the Consent Calendar with Councilmember Eklund and Mayor Farac recused from item G.4.
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 have to read ordinances aloud in their entirety
G.2. Approve the City Council Meeting Minutes of April 14, 2026 The City Council approved the meeting minutes of April 14, 2026.
G.3. Approve the Closed and Open City Council Special Meeting Minutes of April 17, 2026
The City Council approved the special meeting minutes of April 17, 2026.
G.4. Adopt ordinance 1731 adding Section 4-17 (Tenant Protections) to the Novato Municipal Code and finding the amendment to be exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3) and 15378(b)(5)
The City Council adopted Ordinance 1731.
G.5. Approve the amended Measure AA Expenditure Plan, as adopted by the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) Board on March 26, 2026, following a comprehensive public outreach and review process
The City Council approved the amended Measure AA Expenditure Plan.
G.6. Adopt a resolution designating officers authorized to deposit and withdraw funds between the City of Novato’s Local Agency Investment Fund (LAIF) accounts and the City’s Columbia Bank Operating Account The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-027.
G.7. Accept the work as complete and authorize the City Manager to sign the Notice of Completion for the 2025 Annual Pavement Rehabilitation – Contract 2, Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Project Number 25-001 The City Council accepted the work as complete and authorized the Mayor to sign the Notice of Completion.
G.8. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to amend section 4.04(b) of the Agreement of Purchase and Sale and Joint Escrow Instructions between the City of Novato and Headland, LLC, to purchase Marin County Assessor’s Parcel Nos. 157-690-374 and portions of APN 157-690-53
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-028.
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 consider adopting a resolution recommending Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) project funding for Fiscal Year 2026-27 to the Countywide Priority Setting Committee and Marin County Board of Supervisors for the Novato Planning Area Community Development Director Clare Hartman opened the item and Leelee Thomas, Planning Manager, Housing & Federal Grants Division from the County of Marin presented the proposed funding allocations.
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 adopt the resolution recommending Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) project funding for Fiscal Year 2026-27 to the Countywide Priority Setting Committee and Marin County Board of Supervisors for the Novato Planning Area.
AYES: EKLUND, KARKAL, O’CONNOR, JACOBS, FARAC
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-029.
J.2. Receive a presentation, continue the study session from April 14, 2026, and provide direction to staff regarding Commercial Cannabis Retail Storefronts in alignment with Goal #20 in the Novato City Council Strategic Plan Community Development Director Clare Hartman presented the item and responded to Council questions along with Economic Development Manager Katie Skjerping.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Dale Kline
2. Todd Mick
3. Tony Vargas
4. John Wright
5. Josh Lewis
6. Robert Visconti
7. Jen Henn
8. Michael Clarkson
9. Alexandra Peterson
10. John Zuley
11. Melissa Wahlstrom
12. Sara Sorenson
13. Ryan
14. Thaddeaus Duncan
15. Laura Bonnet
16. Alicia Auckomoto
17. Craig Litwin
18. Alex
19. Ky Lancaster
20. Kristen Allobach
21. Janet Conelly
22. Clare Firstomp
23. Don Carney
24. Elizabeth O’Donnell
25. Ben
26. Karen Deep
27. Giselle Ortiz
28. Tyler
29. Allie Behr
30. Sylvia Bary
31. Katie Ruhle
32. Kelsey Hernandez
33. Jeremiah Mock
The City Council took a brief recess at 7:53 p.m. and returned at 8:02 p.m.
It was questioned whether staff should continue exploring the potential for cannabis storefront retail in the City, however it was generally felt that staff should proceed with the workplan.
MAIN MOTION: Motion made by Councilmember O’Connor and
seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs to receive the report and direct staff to continue with the workplan.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon substitute motion made by Mayor Farac and seconded by Councilmember Eklund, the City Council voted 2-3 to not continue looking at storefront retail, with Councilmember Karkal, Councilmember O’Connor and Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs voting No.
AYES: EKLUND, FARAC
NOES: KARKAL, O’CONNOR, JACOBS
Motion failed.
COUNCIL ACTION ON MAIN MOTION: Council took action on the main motion made by Councilmember O’Connor and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs and voted 3-2 to receive the report and direct staff to continue with the workplan, with Councilmember Eklund and Councilmember Farac voting No.
AYES: KARKAL, O’CONNOR, JACOBS
NOES: EKLUND, FARAC
Motion carried.
K. COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES AND BOARDS (CCB’S) APPOINTMENTS There were no items for this section.
L. WORK STUDY SESSION
L.1. Receive information and provide direction on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026/27 capital improvement program
Public Works Director Chris Benigni presented the item and received feedback from Council.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
M. ADJOURNMENT
The City Council adjourned the meeting at 9:04 p.m.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and adopted at the Novato City Council regular meeting of March 12, 2026.
/Laura McDowall/
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Laura McDowall, City Clerk