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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.