CITY OF PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL & PETALUMA COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT SUCCESSOR AGENCY (PCDSA)
City Hall Council Chamber
11 English Street
Petaluma, CA 94952
MINUTES
Monday, March 16, 2026
REGULAR SESSION 6:00 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER – 6:00 P.M.
Mayor McDonnell called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.
• ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Mayor McDonnell, Vice Mayor DeCarli, Councilmember Barnacle, Councilmember Cader Thompson, Councilmember Nau, Councilmember Quint, Councilmember Shribbs
ABSENT: None.
• PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
• MOMENT OF SILENCE
AGENDA CHANGES AND DELETIONS (TO CURRENT AGENDA ONLY)
The Mayor announced that Item #12 would be heard as the first Public Hearing item, followed by Item #11.
PROCLAMATIONS
• Equal Pay Day
American Association of University Women (AAUW) Petaluma Co-president Joanne Rooney accepted the proclamation.
• Career Technical Education Month
Mayor McDonnell presented the proclamation.
PRESENTATION
• Sonoma Water Budget
Dan Herrera, Deputy Director of Operations, introduced the presentation by Jake Spaulding, Financial Services Division Manager of Sonoma Water.
• Draft Integrated Water Master Plan/Recycled Water Facilities Planning Study
Chelsea Thompson, Director of Water Resources & Utilities, Steve Worrell, Deputy Director of Water Resources & Utilities, Dan Herrera, Deputy Director of Operations, and Dannielle Favela, Water Resources and Conversation Manager presented.
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
During General Public Comment, the public is invited to make comments on items of public interest that are within the City Co uncil’s subject matter jurisdiction and that are not listed on the current agenda. Public comments are limited, up to three minutes per person.
Depending on the number of persons wishing to address the Council, time will be allocated in equal shares totaling no more than twenty minutes, subject to the Council’s discretion (Cal. Gov’t. Code §54954.3(a), Petaluma City Council Rules, Policies and Procedures, III).
Mayor McDonnell opened the general public comment.
Jodi Johnson
Tim Porteous
Bruce Hagen
Heather Haley
Chantal Rogers
Ojasvi Chaudhari
Mayor McDonnell closed the general public comment.
CITY MANAGER COMMENT
City Manager Peggy Flynn made comments.
COUNCIL COMMENT
Councilmember Shribbs
Councilmember Quint
Councilmember Nau
Councilmember Barnacle
Councilmember Cader Thompson
Vice Mayor DeCarli
Mayor McDonnell
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Approved Minutes of the City Council/PCDSA Regular Meeting of March 2, 2026.
2. Approved Tentative Agendas for City Council/PCDSA Special Meeting of March 23, 2026, Regular Meeting of April 6, 2026 and Significant Agenda Items for March - May 2026
3. Adopted Resolution No. 2026-025 N.C.S. Authorizing the Filing of an Application with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for Allocation of Transportation Development Act/ State Transit Assistance Funds for City of Petaluma Transit Services for FY 25/26
4. Adopted Resolution No. 2026-026 N.C.S. Accepting Completion of the Temporary Fire Station Project (C11502435) and the Onsite Asphalt Paving at Fire Station 2 as Part of the Fire Reserve Apparatus Storage & Paving Project (C11501911) by Arntz Builders, Inc. and Authorizing Release of Retention
5. Adopted Resolution No. 2026-027 N.C.S. Authorizing the City of Petaluma to Accept the Statewide Access Fund Administrator/GCAP Services, Inc. Access for All Program Grant Award of $150,000 to Support On-Demand Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Service and Authorizing the City Manager (or Designee) to Execute and Administer the Agreement
6. Adopted Resolution No. 2026-028 N.C.S. Approving the Petaluma Urban Forest Management Plan
7. Adopted Resolution No. 2026-029 N.C.S. Recommending that the City of Petaluma Water Advisory Committee Representative Support the Approval of the Sonoma Water Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Proposed Budget and Rates for the Water Transmission System
8. Adopted (Second Reading) Ordinance 2921 N.C.S. to Update Radar Enforceable Speed Limits on Frates Road and I Street within the City of Petaluma
9. Adopted (Second Reading) Ordinance 2922 N.C.S. Amending Cross-Connection and Backflow Control Regulations Contained in Chapter 15.09 of the Petaluma Municipal Code
10. Adopted (Second Reading) Ordinance 2923 N.C.S. Amending Ordinance 2916 N.C.S. to Change Certain Appropriations for the Operations of the City of Petaluma from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026 and Finding that this Action is Not a Project Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(B)(5).
Mayor McDonnell opened the public comment on the Consent Calendar, and seeing no one request to speak, he closed it.
Motion to adopt Consent Calendar items #1 through #10 made by Councilmember Shribbs, and seconded by Councilmember Barnacle.
Vote: Carried 7-0
Yes: Councilmember Barnacle, Councilmember Cader Thompson, Vice Mayor DeCarli, Councilmember Nau, Councilmember Quint, Councilmember Shribbs, Mayor McDonnell No: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
PUBLIC HEARINGS AND MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION
12. Introduction (First Reading) of an Ordinance Approving a Zoning Text Amendment to Comprehensively Modify Chapter 17 (Tree Preservation) of the Implementing Zoning Ordinance and Amend Petaluma Municipal Code Chapter 13.08 (Trees and other Vegetation), Provi ding Feedback on Modifications to Permit and Enforcement Fees Associated with Implementation of the New Tree Regulations, and Making Findings that this Action is Categorically Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15307 (Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of Natural Resources) and 15308 (Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment)
Heather Hines, Special Projects Manager, presented the staff report.
Mayor McDonnell opened the public hearing.
Nina Zhito
Charles Little
Eric Leland
Wendy Jacobs
Mayor McDonnell closed the public hearing.
Council discussion followed. The following changes were requested and made to the ordinance:
• Add new definition Section 17.020.C. for Developed Property to read, ”For purposes of the tree replacement requirements (17.070.B), a developed property is a privately owned parcel with an existing legally established single-family detached residence.
• Modify Section 17.060.A to read ”it is unlawful to remove or relocate any street tree or any tree with a trunk diameter of six inches or greater without a tree removal permit except as may be exempted by the provisions of Section 17.040 above or for regular trimming and pruning as outlined in Section 17.080.” • Add new Section 17.070.B Developed Property. to read, ”All tree removals associated with a Development Permit on a privately owned parcel that is developed with an existing single-family residence shall be replaced at a ratio of one tree (minimum 15-gallon) per 12-inches of trunk diameter or portion thereof. The applicant may plant replacement trees on site or pay the applicable in-lieu fee or a combination of the two to fully satisfy the required tree replacement.” • Modify heading for Section 17.140 to read, ”Violations and Enforcement” • Modify Section 17.140.C to add the final sentence, ”This penalty fee is in addition to tree replacement consistent with applicable requirements in Section 17.070.”
Motion to introduce Ordinance 2924 N.C.S. with requested changes, made by Councilmember Barnacle, seconded by Councilmember Cader Thompson.
Vote: Carried 7-0
Yes: Councilmember Barnacle, Councilmember Cader Thompson, Vice Mayor DeCarli, Councilmember Nau, Councilmember Quint, Councilmember Shribbs, Mayor McDonnell No: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
11. Adoption of an Urgency Ordinance and Introduction (First Reading) of a Non-Urgency Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Petaluma Amending Chapter 17.09 of the Petaluma Municipal code entitled “All-Electric Construction in Newly Constructed Buildings” to Convert Chapter 17.09 to a Policy Promoting but not Requiring Electrification in New Construction and Substantial Remodels in Support of Building Electrification’s Economic, Public Safety, and Greenhouse Gas Benefits, Continuing the City’s Non-Enforcement of Chapter 17.09 Since the Ruling in California Res. Ass’n. v. City of Berkeley in April of 2023, Eliminating All Mandatory Electrification Requirements in Chapter 17.09, and Directing Staff to Continue to Research Potential Policies and Programs for Achieving the City’s Blueprint for Climate Action Goals Consistent with Applicable Law.
Councilmember Barnacle announced he would recuse out of an abundance of caution because he works in the area of building electrification, and he left the Council Chambers.
City Attorney Eric Danly presented the staff report.
Mayor McDonnell opened the public hearing.
Chantal Rogers
Mayor McDonnell closed the public hearing.
Motion to adopt Urgency Ordinance 2925 N.C.S. and introduced (First Reading) Non-Urgency Ordinance 2926 N.C.S. made by Councilmember Cader Thompson, seconded by Councilmember Nau.
Vote: Carried 6-0
Yes: Councilmember Cader Thompson, Vice Mayor DeCarli, Councilmember Nau, Councilmember Quint, Councilmember Shribbs, Mayor McDonnell
No: None
Absent: None
Abstain: Councilmember Barnacle
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor McDonnell adjourned the meeting at 10:27 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Caitlin Corley
City Clerk