NOVATO CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
May 12, 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, Police Chief Jim Naugle, Assistant City Attorney Carla Hansen, Public Works Director Chris Benigni, Finance Director Carla Carvalho-DeGraff, Economic Development Manager Katie Skjerping, Principal Management Analyst Jennifer Maldonado, Senior Civil Engineer Ali Iqbal, City Attorney Gary Bell and City Clerk Laura McDowall B. CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT
City Attorney Gary Bell announced that the City Council met in Closed Session prior to the open session and reported that the City Council voted 5-0 to initiate litigation. The action, defendants and other particulars will, once the action has commenced, be disclosed to any person upon inquiry.
C. CEREMONIAL MATTERS/PRESENTATIONS
C.1. Proclamation: Public Works Week
Public Works Director Chris Benigni and members of the Public Works Staff accepted the proclamation.
C.2. Proclamation: Police Week
Police Chief Jim Naugle and member of the Novato Police Department accepted the proclamation.
C.3. Proclamation: May Water Safety Month
Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Katie Gauntlett and Tiffany Porter, Recreation Coordinator – Aquatics accepted the proclamation.
D. APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember O’Connor and seconded by Councilmember Eklund, 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
The City Council gave reports on meetings and events they had attended.
F. PUBLIC COMMENT
1. Ryan Ralston
2. Bernie Meyers
3. Sonia Seeman
4. Dave Kenyon
5. Alan Gump
6. Sonica Goel
7. Silke Valentine
The City Council took a brief recess from 6:42 p.m. to 6:47 p.m.
G. CONSENT CALENDAR
Prior to the adoption of the Consent Calendar, City Attorney Gary Bell gave an oral report that Agenda Item G7 increases the Chief of police salary from $20,935 to $21,915 per month, and Councilmember Eklund announced she would be pulling Item G.9 and placing it at the end of the agenda.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember O’Connor and seconded by Councilmember Karkal, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to approve the Consent Calendar with Item G.9 removed from the Consent Calendar and placed at the end of the agenda.
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 April 28, 2026
The City Council approved the closed and open session meeting minutes of April 28, 2026.
G.3. Adopt a resolution authorizing Public Works staff to apply for, and accept if approved, Active Transportation Program (ATP) Cycle 8 grant funding for the Redwood Boulevard Sidewalk Gap Closures project and reimburse the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) for ATP application development services in an amount not to exceed $10,000
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-030.
G.4. Authorize the City Manager to execute a Consultant Services Agreement with Ghirardelli Associates, for Construction Management, Inspections and Material Testing Services in the amount of $2,214,000 for the Novato Boulevard Improvements, CIP Project No. 01-004, and approve an amendment to the FY 2025/26 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Budget amendment (Reso 2025-055)
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-031.
G.5. Adopt a resolution authorizing staff to submit to the California Transportation Commission a list of approved capital improvement projects that are eligible for state Roadway Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) funding for Fiscal Year 2026/27
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-032.
G.6. Adopt a resolution approving the reclassification of the Police Technical Services Supervisor to Police Technical Services Manager; approve the job description; and approve the associated salary schedule The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-033.
G.7. Adopt a resolution approving a 4.68% salary adjustment for the Chief of Police to increase the monthly salary from $20,935 to $21,915, effective the next full pay period; the proposed increase addresses salary compression and supports retention of the Chief of Police
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-034.
G.8. Per CalPERS request, approve an update to Resolution 2020-03 to include the mayor’s signature on Resolution 2020-03 in conformance with CalPERS format requirements
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-035.
G.9. Consider adopting a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an amendment to an Exclusive Negotiation Agreement (ENA) by and between the City of Novato and The Sherman Group for City-Owned Properties at 900 Sherman Avenue (APN: 153-063-14) and 908 Sherman Avenue (APN: 153- 063-15), granting an additional twelve (12) month extension to the ENA to allow commencement of required environmental studies, entitlements, and the advancement of lease structure negotiations
This item was pulled from the Consent Calendar and placed at the end of the agenda.
G.10. Adopt a resolution declaring 1663 Novato Boulevard (Assessor Parcel Number (“APN”) 140-041-44) as exempt surplus land and 1523 S. Novato Boulevard (APN 140-291-29) as surplus land under the Surplus Land Act (Government Code sections 54220 et seq)
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-036.
H. UNFINISHED AND OTHER BUSINESS
There were no items listed for this section.
I. PUBLIC HEARINGS
I.1. Conduct a public hearing and consider adopting a resolution approving the Novato Police Department’s 2025-2026 Military Equipment Use Annual Report and list of equipment and renewing Ordinance No. 1703 approving Military Equipment Use Policy 710 pursuant to California Assembly Bill 481 Police Chief Jim Naugle gave the report and responded to Council questions.
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 approving the Novato Police Department’s 2025-2026 Military Equipment Use Annual Report and list of equipment and renewing Ordinance No. 1703 approving Military Equipment Use Policy 710 pursuant to California Assembly Bill 481.
AYES: EKLUND, KARKAL, O’CONNOR, JACOBS, FARAC
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-037.
I.2. Hold a public hearing and adopt a resolution for the ordering of prohibition of excavation in the traveled way of listed streets to support the upcoming 2026 Annual Pavement Rehabilitation project, CIP No. 26-001 (Redwood Blvd) and Olive Ave. Widening and Utility Undergrounding Project (CIP No. 97-001) pursuant to Chapter 15-2.54 of the City of Novato Municipal Code Public Works Director Chris Benigni opened the item and introduced Engineer Ali Iqbal who gave the presentation.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember Karkal, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to adopt the resolution for the ordering of prohibition of excavation in the traveled way of listed streets to support the upcoming 2026 Annual Pavement Rehabilitation project, CIP No. 26-001 (Redwood Blvd) and Olive Ave. Widening and Utility Undergrounding Project (CIP No. 97-001) pursuant to Chapter 15-2.54 of the City of Novato Municipal Code
AYES: EKLUND, KARKAL, O’CONNOR, JACOBS, FARAC
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-038.
J. GENERAL BUSINESS
J.1. Receive a presentation and conduct a study session on the Economic Development Strategic Plan (EDSP) process currently underway in alignment with Goal #5 in the Novato City Council Strategic Plan for 2023- 2025, which states “Assess economic development needs and develop a strategy toward building a comprehensive, long-term economic development plan”
Assistant City Manager Carla Hansen opened the item and Economic Development Manager Katie Skjerping gave the presentation along with Good City Company consultants Dena Belzer and Sabina Mora. The City Council gave feedback to Staff.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Denise Athas
2. Susan Wernick
3. Stephanie Koehler
The City Council took a recess between 8:04 p.m. and 8:10 p.m.
K. COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES AND BOARDS (CCB’S) APPOINTMENTS There were no items for this section.
L. WORK STUDY SESSION
L.1. Receive the presentation on the preliminary FY26/27 Operating Budget and Capital Budget and provide any additional budget development direction desired
City Manager Amy Cunningham opened the item. Finance Director Carla Carvalho-DeGraff and Principal Management Analyst Jennifer Maldonado gave the presentation and received feedback from the City Council.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None.
ITEMS PULLED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR
G.9. Consider adopting a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an amendment to an Exclusive Negotiation Agreement (ENA) by and between the City of Novato and The Sherman Group for City-Owned Properties at 900 Sherman Avenue (APN: 153-063-14) and 908 Sherman Avenue (APN: 153- 063-15), granting an additional twelve (12) month extension to the ENA to allow commencement of required environmental studies, entitlements, and the advancement of lease structure negotiations
Councilmember Eklund explained that she pulled the item because she felt the item should be agendized for a future meeting prior to the expiration of the extension, however it was generally felt that a future agendized item was not needed.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember O’Connor and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs, the City Council voted 4-1 via roll call to adopt the resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an amendment to an Exclusive Negotiation Agreement (ENA) by and between the City of Novato and The Sherman Group for City-Owned Properties at 900 Sherman Avenue (APN: 153-063-14) and 908 Sherman Avenue (APN: 153- 063-15), granting an additional twelve (12) month extension to the ENA to allow commencement of required environmental studies, entitlements, and the advancement of lease structure negotiations, with Councilmember Eklund voting No.
AYES: KARKAL, O’CONNOR, JACOBS, FARAC
NOES: EKLUND
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-039.
M. ADJOURNMENT
The City Council adjourned the meeting at 9:09 p.m.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and adopted at the Novato City Council regular meeting of June 9, 2026.
/Laura McDowall/
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Laura McDowall, City Clerk