JOINT CITY COUNCIL/CITY COUNCIL AS SUCCESSOR AGENCY
TO DISSOLVED REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY/
NOVATO PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY
MEETING MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
June 23, 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 Leo & Penny leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Rachel Farac, Mayor Pro Tempore Kevin Jacobs, Councilmember Pat Eklund, and Councilmember Sandeep Karkal COUNCIL ABSENT: Councilmember Tim O’Connor
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Amy Cunningham, Police Chief Jim Naugle, Public Works Director Chris Benigni, Community Development Director Clare Hartman, Public Works Administrative Manager Cindy Chong, Principal Management Analyst Jennifer Maldonado, Assistant City Attorney Mackenzie Anderson and City Clerk Laura McDowall
B. CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT
There was no closed session.
C. CEREMONIAL MATTERS/PRESENTATIONS
C.1. Presentation: PG&E
PG&E Local Government Affairs Representative Mark Van Gorder gave the presentation.
C.2. Proclamation: Gun Violence Awareness Month
Mayor Farac read the proclamation.
D. APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA
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 Final Agenda, with Councilmember O’Connor absent.
AYES: EKLUND, KARKAL, JACOBS, FARAC
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: O’CONNOR
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. Bambi Klyse
2. Jen Mallow
3. Sara M.
4. Jason Sarris
5. Kim Christie
6. Peter Evans
G. CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember Eklund announced she would be pulling Item G.12 from the Consent Calendar and it was determined that it would be taken first.
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 Item G.12 removed, with Councilmember O’Connor being absent.
AYES: EKLUND, KARKAL, JACOBS, FARAC
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: O’CONNOR
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 City Council meeting minutes of June 9, 2026 The City Council approved the meeting minutes of June 9, 2026.
G.3. Adopt a resolution to approve an administrative update to the Comprehensive (Master) Fee Schedule
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-055.
G.4. Adopt a resolution establishing the appropriations limit of $170,393,883 for Fiscal Year 2026/27
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-056
G.5. Adopt a resolution approving the plans and specifications and authorizing a bid advertisement for the Novato Boulevard (Blvd.) Improvements Project Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Project No. 01-004, a coordinated infrastructure project with the North Marin Water District, and the Novato Sanitary District
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-057.
G.6. Adopt a resolution to provide for one full-time (1 FTE) police detective assigned to the Marin County Auto Theft Task Force, with funding established by and pursuant to California Vehicle Code § 9250.14 via the Marin County Sheriff’s Office; approve and authorize the City Manager or her designee to execute the related agreement with the Marin County Sheriff’s Office; and revise the police department’s personnel allocation and budget appropriations as needed
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-058.
G.7. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a three-year contract with Rise Housing Solutions for administration of the City’s below market rate housing program, including monitoring of affordable rental units, and sales, resales and refinancing of deed restricted for-sale units in an amount not to exceed $524,864 for Fiscal Years (FY) 2026-2029 The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-059.
G.8. Adopt a resolution authorizing bid advertisement for the Novato Police Department Water Infiltration Project, Capital Improvement Program (CIP) No. 26-016, and finding that the project is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-060.
G.9. Adopt a resolution to correct Resolution 2026–035 to add CalPERS’ required text that delegates authority to the City Manager for making Safety Member industrial disability retirement determinations
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-061.
G.10. Adopt the resolution authorizing the City Manager, or their designee, to execute the maintenance agreement for City facilities and parks janitorial services with Universal Building Services and Supply Co. in an amount not to exceed $1,102,587 for the period commencing July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029, in an amount not to exceed $367,529 per fiscal year The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-062.
G.11. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 2 in the amount of $113,000 to the Consultant Services Agreement with Mark Thomas & Company, Inc. for project management, design, right of way appraisal, acquisition, and certification services for the Novato Boulevard Improvements Project, Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Project No. 01- 004
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-063.
G.12. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager, or their designee, to execute a maintenance agreement with Dibble Landscaping for landscape maintenance services within the Hillside, Wildwood, San Pablo, and Hamilton districts, in an amount not to exceed $740,820 for the period commencing July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029, with an option to extend the agreement for up to two additional one-year terms
This item was removed from the Consent Calendar.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
G.12. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager, or their designee, to execute a maintenance agreement with Dibble Landscaping for landscape maintenance services within the Hillside, Wildwood, San Pablo, and Hamilton districts, in an amount not to exceed $740,820 for the period commencing July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029, with an option to extend the agreement for up to two additional one-year terms
Councilmember Eklund explained that she pulled this item from the Consent Calendar because she wanted clarification on communication with the members of the Assessment Districts and the Novato Fire Protection District about the transition, as well as questions regarding how the assessment fund were used.
Staff confirmed that they would look at the financials and would communicate with homeowners and HOAs regarding the service change.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Peter Evans
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 Adopt the resolution authorizing the City Manager, or their designee, to execute a maintenance agreement with Dibble Landscaping for landscape maintenance services within the Hillside, Wildwood, San Pablo, and Hamilton districts, in an amount not to exceed $740,820 for the period commencing July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029, with an option to extend the agreement for up to two additional one-year terms, with the understanding that Staff would look at the financials and work with homeowners, with Councilmember O’Connor being absent.
AYES: EKLUND, KARKAL, JACOBS, FARAC
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: O’CONNOR
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-064.
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 the Community Development Department’s Service Improvements Phase 4 & Final Report - June 2026 which summarizes actions taken in response to the Building Division Organization Assessment report prepared by Baker Tilly US, LLC in March 2024
Community Development Director Clare Hartman presented the item.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
J.2. Receive a presentation and consider adopting a resolution accepting the Police Department’s Strategic Plan for FY 26/27 – FY 28/29 Police Chief Jim Naugle gave the presentation.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs and seconded by Councilmember Karkal, the City Council voted 4-0-1 via roll call to adopt the resolution accepting the Police Department’s Strategic Plan for FY 26/27 – FY 28/29, with Councilmember O’Connor absent.
AYES: EKLUND, KARKAL, JACOBS, FARAC
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: O’CONNOR
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-065.
The City Council took a brief recess at 7:40 p.m. and returned at 7:46 p.m.
J.3. Consideration and approval of: (i) a resolution adopting the final City of Novato Operating and Capital Improvement Program Budgets for FY 2026/27, and (ii) a resolution adopting the final budget of the Novato Public Finance Authority for FY2026/27
City Manager Amy Cunningham opened the item and Finance Director Carla Carvalho-DeGraff presented along with Principal Management Analyst Jennifer Maldonado.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Karkal and seconded by Mayo Pro Tem Jacobs, the City Council/City Council as Successor Agency to Dissolved Redevelopment Agency/Novato Public Finance Authority voted 4-0-1 via roll call to adopt the resolution adopting the final City of Novato Operating and Capital Improvement Program Budgets for FY 2026/27, and adopt the resolution adopting the final budget of the Novato Public Finance Authority for FY2026/27, with Councilmember O’Connor being absent.
AYES: EKLUND, KARKAL, JACOBS, FARAC
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: O’CONNOR
Motion carried. The City Council/City Council as Successor Agency to Dissolved Redevelopment Agency/Novato Public Finance Authority adopted Resolution No. 2026-066 and Resolution No. NPFA 2006-001.
J.4. Consider adopting a policy addressing how the City will respond to disruptions in telephonic or internet service that prevent members of the public from participating remotely in accordance with Senate Bill 707 City Clerk Laura McDowall presented the item.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember Karkal, the City Council voted 4-0-1 via roll call to adopt the policy, with Councilmember O’Connor being absent.
AYES: EKLUND, KARKAL, JACOBS, FARAC
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: O’CONNOR
Motion carried.
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
The City Council adjourned the meeting at 8:16 p.m.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and adopted at the Novato City Council regular meeting of July 14, 2026.
/Laura McDowall/
___________________
Laura McDowall, City Clerk