Novato City Council Meeting Summary: September 24, 2024
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Novato City Council Meeting Summary: September 24, 2024
The Novato City Council met on September 24, 2024, at 6:00 PM. The meeting included proclamations, a public hearing on a mixed-use development, and discussions on housing, homelessness, community development improvements, and a loan policy. Two high-profile items (J1 and J2) regarding the closure of the Lee Gerner Park encampment and an update to the camping ordinance were pulled from the agenda due to a late meet-and-confer request from the homeless union. Public comments overwhelmingly opposed criminalizing homelessness and urged the city to maintain supportive services.
Proclamations
- United Against Hate Week: Mayor Milberg proclaimed September 21–27, 2024, as United Against Hate Week. Cliff Jacobs, chair of the Multicultural Advisory Commission, accepted the proclamation and invited the community to a forum on September 25.
- National Service Dog Month: The council recognized September as National Service Dog Month. Representatives from Canine Companions spoke about the transformative impact of service dogs for veterans and people with disabilities.
Consent Calendar (Items G.1–G.11)
Items G.1 through G.11 were approved by a single vote. Item G.12 (tentative agenda list) was pulled to the end of the meeting for separate discussion. Key approvals included:
- G.1: Waiving reading of ordinances by title only.
- G.2 & G.3: Approval of minutes from July 23 and August 27, 2024.
- G.4: Appointment of Councilmember Pat Eklund to the Marin County Sea Level Rise Governance Steering Committee.
- G.5: Adoption of the 2025 City Council meeting schedule.
- G.6: Acceptance of a $119,000 Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety.
- G.7: Authorization for a $148,461.50 professional services agreement with Environmental Geology Services for underground fuel tank replacement.
- G.8 & G.9: Authorization for on-call engineering and maintenance services contracts.
- G.10 & G.11: Acceptance of work as complete and signing of Notices of Completion for the Marin Valley Mobile Country Club Pump Station and Pioneer Park Play Area upgrades.
- G.12: Pulled to allow discussion on Measure M fiscal planning (see below).
Public Comments & Testimony
- General Public Comment: Approximately 15 members of the public spoke, most opposing the criminalization of homelessness and supporting the continuation of Camp Compassion (the Lee Gerner Park encampment). Speakers included individuals with lived experience of homelessness, advocates, and representatives of the California Homeless Union. They argued that criminalizing homelessness does not solve the problem and that the city should focus on permanent supportive housing. Some also criticized the city’s financial transparency regarding Measure M.
- Public Hearing on 1st & Grant Mixed-Use (I.1): Three speakers commented. Kevin Jacobs (longtime resident) expressed concerns about height, parking, and community fit. Dale Klein (president-elect of the Novato Chamber of Commerce) stated the chamber does not support the project as proposed due to parking and design issues. Kevin Cleet argued that the project violates state law because SMART stations are exempt from AB 2011 density bonuses; City Attorney Gary Bell responded that the cited code section applies to housing element calculations, not AB 2011 approvals.
Discussion Items
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I.1 – 1st Street & Grant Avenue Mixed-Use (P2023-057): The council considered a resolution to approve 170 apartments, 8,010 sq ft of retail, and parking at 1107 Grant Avenue under AB 2011. Staff recommended conditional approval pending resolution of hazardous materials documentation. The applicant, Alexis Gavorgian (AMG), stated they have an unconditional “no further action” letter but acknowledged the need for additional clarification from the state. Councilmembers debated conditional approval vs. a tolling agreement. Concerns included height (six stories), parking (24 spaces for 170 units), occupancy enforcement, and lack of community outreach. Councilmember Eklund noted that the council policy manual was not followed in the previous hearing. The council voted 5-0 to enter an 18-month tolling agreement, allowing time for the applicant to obtain proper documentation and potentially revise the project design. The applicant agreed to provide progress updates.
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J.3 – Community Development Department Service Improvements: Director Clare Hartman presented Phase 1 improvements in response to the March 2024 Baker Tilly assessment. Key actions included: filling 6 of 8 vacancies, adding bilingual staff (from 2 to 6), launching a permit advice center (“Permit Connections”), digitizing 1,500 boxes of records, deploying a customer satisfaction survey (83% satisfied/very satisfied), and selecting new permit tracking software (MainStar) with a go-live date of June 2025. The council received the report unanimously. Councilmember Eklund requested a review of whether the city requires permits for items that other cities do not.
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J.4 – City Loan Policy: Finance Director Carla Carvalho-Degraff presented a draft policy to establish guardrails for any future loans to external entities. The council debated whether to adopt a formal policy or simply state the city does not make loans. Councilmember Farac and Warnick opposed any loan policy, arguing the city is not a bank. Mayor Pro Tem O’Connor suggested a policy that would require collateral, personal guarantees, and a supermajority vote. The council ultimately voted to add a simple statement in the council policy manual: “The City of Novato does not make loans to outside organizations. If a loan request is ever made, it would require a supermajority vote of the council.” The motion passed 5-0.
Key Outcomes
- Tolling Agreement for 1st & Grant Mixed-Use: Approved 5-0, suspending the decision deadline for up to 18 months while the applicant resolves hazardous materials documentation. The applicant must provide periodic updates to staff.
- Loan Policy: Council directed staff to incorporate a statement in the council policy manual prohibiting loans to external entities, with a supermajority requirement for any exceptions.
- Community Development Report: Received and filed; staff will continue Phase 2 improvements, including e-permits and enhanced online resources.
- Measure M Fiscal Planning: Councilmember Eklund requested a dedicated discussion in October 2024 on the use of Measure M funds (if passed) to address the operating deficit, reserves, infrastructure, and unfunded liabilities. The city manager agreed to bring a comprehensive fiscal sustainability plan to the council in October.
- Next Meeting: The next regular meeting is scheduled for October 8, 2024.
Meeting Transcript
The Pledge of Allegiance, everybody please stand and I'll lead you. Laura, would you do our roll call, please? Councilmember Eklund. Councilmember Eklund, are you present? Councilmember Farak, present. Councilmember Wernick. Present. Mayor Putem O'Connor. Present. And Mayor Milberg. Present. The City Council met in closed session. I'm going to turn to our city attorney and ask if there's anything to report out. Yeah, thank you, Mayor and Council members. There's nothing to report from closed session. Thank you, sir. I uh will now ask the council members to please join me. We have two proclamations to do this evening. Please join me on the front. So the first ceremony matter is a proclamation to uh honor United Against Hate Week. And I'd like to ask uh Cliff Jacobs, who's our multicultural advisory commission chair to come up to accept the proclamation. Welcome, Cliff. Good to see you. Good to see you, Matt. Thank you. Why don't you stand between stand between that? Great to see you. United Against Hate Week, September 21st through the 27th, 2024. Whereas the United States is a nation of immigrants and indigenous peoples whose strength comes from its diversity. And whereas the Constitution enshrines equality on all individuals, regardless of race, gender, orientation, religion, or political views. And whereas recent rhetoric has generated a toxic environment that encourages the propagation of racist, xenophobic, sexist, homophobic discrimination based on religious beliefs and or other bigoted views by emboldened hate groups and individuals. And whereas deep divisions within our country allow for the festering of extreme ideology, further strengthening a cycle of mistrust and suspicion, fueled by fear, anxiety, and insecurity. And whereas the number of hate crimes across the United States has increased dramatically over the past couple of years. And whereas the City of Novato City of Novato City Council is dedicated to preventing and imposing opposing hate and intolerance in our community. And whereas the City of Novado City Council since 2018 has participated in United Against Hate Week and not in our town and its movement to stop hate, address bullying, and build safe, inclusive communities for all. And whereas the Multicultural Advisory Commission is advisory to the city manager and city council, providing support around issues surrounding multiculturalism, diversity, and hate crimes, acting as a catalyst to encourage respect, understanding, and inclusion of all of Novato's diversity. And whereas the multicultural advisory commissioners join all of our community members in recognizing this week and bringing to light that education, compassion, and cooperation are key to unlocking understanding and embracing differences between people. And whereas the City of Novato commends all United Against Hate Week actions undertaken by participating Novato community members, including collaborative work with North Marin Community Services, Novado Unified School District, Novado Police Department, not in our town national, Marin County District Attorney's Office, and Novato's Multicultural Advisory Commission to create awareness, educate, and share resources regarding how to positive positively respond to hate. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the City of Novato seeks to join the Bay Area, California, and other communities across the country in united against hate week as an important step in bringing division and strengthening our communities to combat hate. Thank you. Would you would you like to say a few words? Please. Hi, my name is Cliff Jacobs, and I currently chair the commission, which is the Multicultural Advisory Commission. This is not a one-time event. This is something that we are ongoingly perpetuating. We want to stand united against all forms of hate in our community. We encourage participation, inclusion, diversity, and all of the things that would make people feel very welcome to be a part of the Novato community. As a matter of fact, tomorrow evening, our commission meeting is hosting an event, a forum right here in this room from six to about eight o'clock, where we will have representatives from the Latin American, Asian Pacific Islander, Muslim and Jewish communities here to discuss hate in their community and how we can stand united as a community to combat that and to address that together, which is what we are. We are Novatoans united to combat hate. Thank you.
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