NOVATO CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
July 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, Public Works Director Chris Benigni, Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Katie Gauntlett, Finance Director Carla Carvalho-DeGraff, Deputy Public Works Director Mahesh Yedluri, Recreation Manager Drew Bendickson, Public Works Administrative Manager Cindy Chong, 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: Carla Carvalho-DeGraff
Finance Director Carla Carvalho-DeGraff accepted the proclamation.
C.2. Proclamation: Parks and Recreation Month
Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Katie Gauntlett accepted the proclamation along with staff of the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department.
C.3. Presentation: Utility Box Art
Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Gauntlett opened the item and Recreation Manager Drew Bendickson gave the presentation.
D. APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA
City Manager Amy Cunningham announced that staff would be removing Item G.8 from the agenda, and that it would return to the City Council at a future date.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Mayor Farac and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs, the City Council voted 4-0-1 via roll call to approve the Final Agenda with Item G.8 removed, 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: Consider sending a comment letter and a request to extend the public comment period for the Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for the proposed Buck Gulch Falls Creek Restoration and Trail Improvement Project in the Ignacio Valley Open Space Preserve at the end of Fairway Drive
Councilmember Eklund presented the item and proposed sending a comment letter to request an extension of the comment period for the Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) of 90 days, and to bring an item forward at a future Council meeting to discuss the merits of the project and provide comments on the IS/MND, to which the Council agreed.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Daniel Christian
2. Dianna Bartram
3. Marc Sebastian
4. Chris Carpiniello
5. Gabrielle Campbell
6. Kevin Bartram
7. Gary Jones
8. AJ Patterson
9. Gael Perrin
10. Judie Shaw
11. Mark Scardina
12. Donna Steger
13. Kevin Hogan
14. Mary Rawles
15. Anne Rettenberg
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember O’Connor, the City Council voted 4-0- 1 via roll call to direct staff to create a letter for the Mayor’s signature requesting an extension of the comment period of 90 days for the Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for the proposed Buck Gulch Falls Creek Restoration and Trail Improvement Project, with Councilmember Karkal absent.
AYES: EKLUND, O’CONNOR, JACOBS, FARAC
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: KARKAL
Motion carried.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Mayor Farac, the City Council voted 4-0-1 via roll call to add an item to the July 28th City Council meeting to discuss the merits of the Buck Gulch Falls Creek Restoration and Trail Improvement Project and provide comments on the Draft IS/MND if the request for a 90 day extension of the comment period was denied, or the August 25, 2026 City Council meeting if the request was approved, with Councilmember Karkal absent.
AYES: EKLUND, O’CONNOR, JACOBS, FARAC
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: KARKAL
Motion carried.
E.2. Reports from the City Council & City Manager
The City Council gave reports on meetings and events they had attended.
F. PUBLIC COMMENT
1. Bernie Meyers
2. Elisa Cleek
G. CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember Eklund announced she would be pulling Items G.3 and G.9 and placing them under General Business. Item G.8 was removed from the agenda to return at a future date.
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember O’Connor 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.8 removed, and Items G.3 and G.9 pulled from the Consent Calendar and placed under General Business, 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 the City Council meeting minutes of June 23, 2026 The City Council approved the meeting minutes of June 23, 2026.
G.3. Receive and file the list of upcoming and to be determined City Council agenda items for the second quarter of 2026
This item was removed from the Consent Calendar and placed under General Business.
G.4. Adopt a resolution calling and giving notice of by-district elections for City Councilmember Districts 2, 4 and 5 in the General Municipal Election to be held on November 3, 2026, requesting the Marin County Board of Supervisors to consolidate the election with any other election, and requesting election services by the Marin County Elections Department The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-067.
G.5. Receive and file the City of Novato’s Fiscal Year 2025/26 fourth quarter (April – June 2026) payment register report
The City Council received and filed the report.
G.6. Adopt a resolution to (1) authorize the Mayor to execute the Third Amendment to the 2020 Cooperation Agreement with the County of Marin for the administration of the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Programs; (2) authorize the Mayor to submit an updated HUD Form 424-B certifying the City's compliance with applicable federal laws; and (3) acknowledge that the Mayor signed and submitted a letter to the County of Marin on June 29, 2026, reaffirming the City's decision to defer its designation as a "metropolitan city"
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-068.
G.7. Adopt a resolution approving an updated City of Novato salary schedule based on negotiated terms agreed upon during the 2025 labor negotiations and corresponding salary schedule
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-069.
G.8. Adopt a resolution approving the City Council Strategic Plan for the Period July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2029
This item was removed from the agenda.
G.9. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to request that the Governor of California nominate all eligible Novato census tracts for Opportunity Zone 2.0 status
This item was pulled from the Consent Calendar and placed under General Business.
H. UNFINISHED AND OTHER BUSINESS
There were no items listed for this section.
I. PUBLIC HEARINGS
I.1. Hold a public hearing and consider adopting the proposed resolution confirming the diagram and assessment roll for the Hillside Park Unit 4 Landscape Assessment District as set forth in the annual Engineer’s Report and thereby levy the assessment as set forth therein for Fiscal Year 2026/27 CEQA: Exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, Existing Facilities
I.2. Hold a public hearing and consider adopting the proposed resolution confirming the diagram and assessment roll for the Wildwood Glen Landscaping District C-91 as set forth in the annual Engineer’s Report and thereby levy the assessment as set forth therein for Fiscal Year 2026/27 CEQA: Exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, Existing Facilities
I.3. Hold a public hearing and consider adopting the proposed resolution confirming the diagram and assessment roll as set forth in the annual Engineer’s Report for the San Pablo Subdivision Landscape District A-03 and thereby levy the assessment as set forth therein for Fiscal Year 2026/27 CEQA: Exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, Existing Facilities
Items I.1, 1.2 and I.3 were taken together. Public Works Administrative Manager Cindy Chong gave the presentation.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Tim O’Connell
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember O’Connor and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs, the City Council voted 4-0-1 via roll call to resolutions confirming the diagram and assessment roll for the Hillside Park Unit 4 Landscape Assessment District, Wildwood Glen Landscaping District C-91, and San Pablo Subdivision Landscape District A-03 as set forth in the annual Engineer’s Report and thereby levy the assessment as set forth therein for Fiscal Year 2026/27, with Councilmember Karkal being absent.
AYES: EKLUND, O’CONNOR, JACOBS, FARAC
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: KARKAL
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-070, Resolution No. 2026-071 and Resolution No. 2026-072.
I.4. Hold a public hearing and consider adopting the proposed resolution confirming the diagram and assessment roll as set forth in the annual Engineer’s Report for the San Marin Landscaping Assessment District A-81 and thereby levy the assessment as set forth therein for Fiscal Year 2026/27 CEQA: Exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, Existing Facilities
Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs announced that he would be recusing himself from this item due to real property that he owned and left the dais at 7:44 p.m. Public Works Administrative Manager Chong presented the item.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember O’Connor and seconded by Councilmember Eklund, the City Council voted 3-1-1 via roll call to adopt the resolution confirming the diagram and assessment roll as set forth in the annual Engineer’s Report for the San Marin Landscaping Assessment District A-81 and thereby levy the assessment as set forth therein for Fiscal Year 2026/27, with Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs recused and Councilmember Karkal being absent.
AYES: EKLUND, O’CONNOR, FARAC
NOES: NONE
RECUSED: JACOBS
ABSENT: KARKAL
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-073.
The City Council took a brief recess between 7:44 p.m. and 7:55 p.m. and Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs returned to the dais.
J. GENERAL BUSINESS
J.1. Receive a presentation on the Hamilton Amphitheater Park Playground Improvements Project, Project No. 26-004; review the recommendations provided by the Recreation, Cultural and Community Services Advisory Commission on the proposed playground design and play equipment for Hamilton Amphitheater Neighborhood Park, located at 601 N. Hamilton Parkway and adopt a resolution (1) approving the Proposed Playground Design; (2) approving the plans and specifications; (3) authorizing staff to finalize the specifications and advertise the project for construction bids; and (4) finding the project categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, Existing Facilities
Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Gauntlett presented the item along with Deputy Public Works Director Mahesh Yedluri.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
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 (1) approving the Proposed Playground Design; (2) approving the plans and specifications; (3) authorizing staff to finalize the specifications and advertise the project for construction bids; and (4) finding the project categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, Existing Facilities.
AYES: EKLUND, O’CONNOR, JACOBS, FARAC
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: KARKAL
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-074.
J.2. Consider adopting a resolution to rename Hamilton Amphitheater Park to Mark J. Milberg Community Park in honor of former Mayor and Councilmember Mark J. Milberg
Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Gauntlett presented the item.
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 adopt the resolution to rename Hamilton Amphitheater Park to Mark J.
Milberg Community Park in honor of former Mayor and Councilmember Mark J. Milberg, with Councilmember Karkal being absent.
AYES: EKLUND, O’CONNOR, JACOBS, FARAC
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: KARKAL
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-075.
J.3. Consider and possibly take action to designate a voting representative and up to two alternate voting representatives for the League of California Cities Annual Conference General Assembly
City Clerk Laura McDowall opened the item and the City Council appointed Mayor Farac as the Voting Delegate and Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs as the Alternate.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember O’Connor and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs, the City Council voted 4-0-1 via roll call to appoint Mayor Farac as the Voting Delegate and Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs as the Alternate, with Councilmember Karkal being absent.
AYES: EKLUND, O’CONNOR, JACOBS, FARAC
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: KARKAL
Motion carried.
ITEMS PULLED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR
G.3. Receive and file the list of upcoming and to be determined City Council agenda items for the second quarter of 2026
Councilmember Eklund asked clarifying questions about the upcoming meeting schedule and items on the To Be Determined list.
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 receive and file the list as presented, with Councilmember Karkal absent.
AYES: EKLUND, O’CONNOR, JACOBS, FARAC
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: KARKAL
Motion carried.
G.9. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to request that the Governor of California nominate all eligible Novato census tracts for Opportunity Zone 2.0 status
Councilmember Eklund asked clarifying questions about the census tracts being considered.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Councilmember O’Connor, the City Council voted 4-0-1 via roll call to adopt the resolution authorizing the City Manager to request that the Governor of California nominate all eligible Novato census tracts for Opportunity Zone 2.0 status, with Councilmember Karkal being absent.
AYES: EKLUND, O’CONNOR, JACOBS, FARAC
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: KARKAL
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-076.
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 8:44 p.m.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and adopted at the Novato City Council regular meeting of July 28, 2026.
/Laura McDowall/
___________________
Laura McDowall, City Clerk