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City Council Special Meeting
Agenda
Tuesday, August 18, 2026 - 5:30 PM
922 MACHIN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
and
TELECONFERENCE
Mayor
Rachel Farac
Mayor Pro Tempore
Kevin Jacobs
Councilmembers
Pat Eklund
Tim O’Connor
Sandeep Karkal
City Manager
Amy Cunningham
City Attorney
Gary Bell
City Council meeting are usually held each month on the second and fourth Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk at (415) 899-8986. Notification at least 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable accommodation to help ensure accessibility to this meeting.
The agenda is divided into three main sections and includes other categories covering routine business.
All references to “City Council” include those other agencies which may be listed at the top of the Agenda.
The City Council may discuss and/or take action on any or all of the items listed on the agenda irrespective of how the agenda items are described. The Council may establish and make appointments to a Council committee (made up of two Councilmembers) with respect to any item appearing on this agenda.
Supplemental Materials
Public Participation/Comment Instructions
Members of the Public may participate and provide public comments to meetings as follows:
• Written public comments may be submitted via eComment. Written public comments received more than 3 hours before the start of the meeting will be distributed to the Council prior to the meeting.
Written public comments will not be read during the meeting. • In-person public comments may be made at the meeting, which are held in the Novato City Council Chambers located at 901 Sherman Avenue.
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• Remote public comments will be accepted through the Zoom meeting platform and via telephone.
To address the Council orally, please read and follow the following instructions carefully:
1. Join the meeting at: https://bit.ly/3U0BaVq
or
Join at Zoom.com
Meeting ID: 859 9409 4868
Password: 1960
Should the links above not work, please go to www.novato.gov/agendas for updated information a. You will be asked to enter an email address and name. We request that you identify yourself by name as this will be visible online and will be used to notify you when it is your turn to speak. b. When the Mayor calls for public comment on the item on which you wish to speak, please use the “Raise Hand” feature by clicking on the hand icon at the bottom of your screen to notify the Host that you would like to speak.
c. The Host will unmute speakers in turn. Speakers will be notified when it is their turn to speak. d. When called upon, please limit your remarks to the time limit allotted by the Mayor or as specified on the agenda. Speakers will be muted when their time is up.
2. Join the meeting via telephone by calling (646) 558- 8656.
Meeting ID: 859 9409 4868
Password: 1960
a. When the Mayor calls for public comment on the item on which you wish to speak, press *9 to activate the “Raise Hand” feature to notify the Host that you would like to speak. b. The Host will unmute speakers in turn. Speakers will be notified when it is their turn to speak. c. When called upon, please limit your remarks to the time limit allotted by the Mayor or as specified on the agenda. Speakers will be muted when their time is up.
The Mayor has the authority to rule any speaker out of order, including speakers during the Public Comment period, if the subject raised is not within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City Council, or during a public hearing or a general business item if the speaker is not presenting testimony or evidence relevant to the matter or if the speaker becomes disruptive to the proceedings and conduct of the meeting.
The Mayor also has the authority to order any person who willfully interrupts the meeting to be removed. All persons are expected to conduct themselves with civility and courtesy at all times. All persons giving comments shall speak directly to the Council and address issues, not individuals. Personal attacks, cursing and outbursts from the audience in support or opposition to a speaker are not tolerated in order to foster an environment where everyone feels welcome to speak
Closed Captions
Live closed captions are available. To access closed captions during the meeting, click on the CC icon available through Zoom.
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A. CONVENE, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND ROLL CALL
B. CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT
C. CEREMONIAL MATTERS/PRESENTATIONS
D. APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA
E. REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL & CITY MANAGER
F. PUBLIC COMMENT
All members of the public wishing to address the City Council are requested to submit a speaker card in advance to the City Clerk. (Please remember that all comment cards are PUBLIC RECORDS).
The Mayor will call the names of speakers from the cards. In addition to receiving comment from the public during the Public Comment period, the Mayor will recognize persons from the audience who wish to address the City Council on a particular agenda item at the time that item is considered by the City Council. There is a two-minute time limit to speak although the Mayor may shorten the time based on the number of speakers or other factors. A speaker may not yield his or her time to another speaker. For issues raised during Public Comment that are not on the published agenda, except as otherwise provided under the Ralph M. Brown Act, no action can legally be taken. The City Council may direct that the item be referred to the City Manager for action or may schedule the item on a subsequent agenda.
G. CONSENT CALENDAR
There are no agenda items.
H. UNFINISHED AND OTHER BUSINESS
There are no agenda items.
I. PUBLIC HEARINGS
There are no agenda items.
J. GENERAL BUSINESS
These items include significant and administrative actions of special interest and will usually include a staff presentation and discussion by the Council. They will be acted upon by a separate vote.
J.1. Take action to either:
1. Adopt a resolution appointing nominee Sandeep Karkal to the District 5 City Council seat; or
2. Continue to hold the November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election for the District 5 seat, as called
Staff contact: Laura McDowall, City Clerk, 899-8986
Staff Report - District 5 Seat
Attachment 1 - Draft Resolution
Attachment 2 - Elections Code 10229
Attachment 3 - Certificate of Facts
K. COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES AND BOARDS (CCB’S) APPOINTMENTS There are no agenda items.
L. WORK STUDY SESSION
There are no agenda items.
M. ADJOURNMENT
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City Council Special Meeting
Closed Session Agenda
Tuesday, August 18, 2026 – Upon Adjournment of Open Session 922 MACHIN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
and
TELECONFERENCE
A. CALL TO ORDER
B. PUBLIC COMMENT (ONLY ON CLOSED SESSION ITEMS)
C. CLOSED SESSION ITEMS
C.1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9:
One potential case.
D. ADJOURNMENT
Materials that are submitted to members of the City Council after the distribution of the agenda packet will be made available to the public at the time it is provided to the City Council.
AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING
I, Laura McDowall, certify that on Thursday, August 13, 2026, before the City Council special meeting of August 18, 2026, the agenda was posted on the City Community Service Board at 922 Machin Ave in Novato, California and on the City’s website at novato.gov. /Laura McDowall/
Laura McDowall, City Clerk