The Novato City Council met on August 27, 2024, at 6:00 PM. The meeting included a ceremonial proclamation for the late Kathy Nickel, approval of a consent calendar, public hearings on two large mixed-use housing projects under AB 2011, and introduction of an ordinance updating the municipal code to comply with state housing laws. The council approved the Fourth & Grant project (209 units) with conditions, continued the First & Grant project (170 units) to a later date due to environmental concerns, and adopted the code amendments.
Thank you. Lori, would you please do the roll call? Councilmember Eklund is absent. Councilmember Farak. Present Councilmember Wernick. Present. Mayor Pro Tem O'Connor. Present. And Mayor Milberg. Present. Thank you. So we did meet in closed session. And I'm gonna turn to our city attorney and ask if there's anything you'd like to report out, please. Yeah, thank you, Mayor and Council members. Nothing to report from closed session. Thank you very much. So tonight we have one wonderful ceremonial matter, proclamation. I'm gonna ask my council members to please join me up front. We're here to um do a proclamation for Kathy Nickel, and we'd like to have Kathy's husband Bernie and her son Heinz to please come up and accept her proclamation. I'll go ahead and read it. We can call you Bernard if that's what I think. Thank you. This is a proclamation recognizing Kathy Nickel. Whereas Kathy Nickel was a beloved member of our community since she and her family moved to Novato in 1976, where she was an active volunteer, first through her children's activities, and later in the broader Novato community, where she built her reputation as an inspirational leader. And whereas Kathy led the Novato Fourth of July Parade Committee for many years to preserve and highlight Novato's heritage. And whereas Kathy is an active member of the downtown Novato tree lighting committee, sought out talented individuals and groups for the on stage entertainment and inspired youth by her example to become dedicated volunteers. And whereas Kathy was a Novato Chamber of Commerce leadership program graduate, volunteered as a Novato Chamber of Commerce ambassador, and was a volunteer coordinator for the Art and Wine Festival. And whereas to recognize her extending outstanding contributions to volunteerism in our community, Kathy was named the Novato Citizen of the Year for 19 from sorry for 2014. And whereas the quality of Kathy's contributions was remarkable for never-ending dedication, enthusiasm, sincerity, and the ability to work cooperatively with a great variety of personalities. She's so loved and extends our heartfelt condolences to her family and friends. Thank you. Bernie's gonna say a few words, and Heinz, if you'd like to feel free, and then when you're done, we're gonna have you take a picture on the Novato Proud underneath the Novato Proud sign. So welcome. Thank you. She was a dynamo. She was so she was smart, so dedicated. Not because she had to, because she wanted to. She had such a gift to work with people. Who were all doing things that uh I don't know? So I'm sure because I was an insurance business and selling, you know, and so forth. So from that point of view, uh, you know, that's all I can say. She was just always looking for somebody else, always uh looking for the best in that way. I just want to yeah, thank all of you for being here and yeah, really appreciate it. Yeah, she was an amazing woman, amazing mother, and yeah, always just absolutely love Novato. And yeah, just her. She always was looking for kids to join the parade, and I mean, just always year round. So thank you very much. Thank you all. Susan wants to say Councilmember Wardick would like to add a few words. We may have some.