Meeting colors

OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Novato City Council Meeting: October 8, 2024 – Proclamations, Playground Design, Policy Manual, and More

City Council — Tuesday, October 8, 2024

BodyNovato, California

SessionCity Council

DateTuesday, October 8, 2024

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 4:15:48

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:00

Good evening, everyone.

0:03

Welcome to the Novato City Council meeting for Tuesday, October 8th, 2024.

0:09

Like to uh call on the VFW Color Guard will lead us in the pledge, so please remain seated until you're told to stand up.

0:17

Thank you.

0:51

Uncovered.

0:53

No, not you guys.

0:56

Face the flag, hand over heart, hand salute.

1:02

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and voice stands in the world.

1:18

Be seated.

1:18

Thank you.

1:27

Okay.

2:05

Tonight we have a proclamation recognizing the veterans of foreign wars of the United States with Donald V.

2:13

Westland, post seven eight sixteen in Novato.

2:18

I'll go ahead and read this and I'll ask if you have any comments, and then we'll have you take a picture in front of the Novato Proud sign over there.

2:26

Whereas the Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW was founded in 1899, is a nonprofit 501c 19 organization of men and women who have served in hostile or combat zones on foreign soil.

2:42

And whereas the Novato VFW Donald V.

2:45

Westland Post 7816, chartered in 1949, is the last remaining VW V VFW post in Marin County and is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.

2:58

And whereas VFW post seven eighty seventy-eight sixteen was named to honor Donald V.

3:04

Westland, the first Novado resident to be killed in World War World World War II.

3:11

Donald, who enlisted in the Army in 1941, was taken prisoner on May 7, 1942, at the fall of Corrigador, survived the Bataan Death March, and subsequently died when the Japanese prisoner ship he was on was sunk.

3:26

And whereas the VFW organization is fraternal, patriotic, historical, charitable, and educational, and whereas the VFW guiding principles are to preserve and strengthen comradeship among its members, to assist worthy comrades, to perpetuate the memory and history of our dead, to assist their surviving spouses and orphans, to maintain true allegiance to the government of the United States, to pledge fidelity to its Constitution and laws, to foster true patriotism, to maintain and extend the institutions of American freedom, to preserve and defend the United States from all enemies, and whereas the Novato VFW Post 7816, with over a hundred members, is an integral and vibrant organization supporting many community activities.

4:21

And whereas Novato Post 7816 raises funds from Buddy Poppy donations on Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Veterans Day, with a hundred percent of the funds raised given to support veterans and their families in need.

4:37

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the City Council of the City of Novato honors, thanks, and supports the veteran men and women of our VFW Post 7816 and expresses deep gratitude to those that have made the ultimate sacrifice.

4:56

Thank you.

4:57

Thank you.

5:01

Yes, I'm congratulations.

5:08

Good evening, all, and thank you, Mr.

5:10

Mayor.

5:11

Uh looking here, I see the core of our community, and it's really remarkable to see there's an activity that you really can put your teeth into.

5:23

We also, as uh veterans, are very interested in outreach and working with our community, and we're finding many ways to do so.

5:33

But I'd like to just say thank you to you all for this wonderful honor and the proclamation, and most especially to Gene MacLeme, who really is part of our lay-son in uh many things, including, if you haven't seen it, the brick collection outside, which is a memorial that'll be here for a long time after most of us are gone.

5:58

And thank you for putting that together as well.

6:02

We are very happy to be in our community.

6:04

We represent all of you, all of you, and we, as veterans, love our country, our flag, and our community.

6:12

Thank you.

6:13

Thank you, Rick.

6:16

Thank you so much.

6:17

If you would please go ahead and take a picture, all of you over by the Novato Proud Sign, we'd really appreciate it, and thank you again for your service.

6:24

It's always a pleasure to see you all.

6:26

Thank you.

6:26

Thank you.

6:27

Thank you.

6:34

Oh, sorry.

6:40

Thank you.

6:43

Thank you, Larry.

6:45

Thank you.

6:49

Thank you.

7:15

We're going to go ahead and move on to the next proclamation.

7:18

And we'd like to call up Perry Sue.

7:33

Perry Sue has served as recreation supervisor in the Parks, Rec, and Community Services Department, overseeing the Novato Gymnastics Center and Gymnastics Youth Programming since 1998.

7:47

Perry played a pivotal role in the initial development and design of the facility that has positively impacted countless youth, and for the past 25 years, has demonstrated unwavering commitment to gymnastics center programming.

8:01

As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Novato Gymnastics Center, we also recognize Perry for his commitment to Novato and 25 years of service.

8:12

I'm going to go ahead and read the proclamation.

8:15

It's quite long, so I may cut a little bit up.

8:19

This is recognizing the 25-year anniversary of the Novato Gymnastics Center.

8:24

Whereas the City of Novato Parks Recreation and Community Services Department has proudly provided gymnastics programming for the youth of Novato for over three decades, having previously hosted activities at the Square Shopping Center and the old Hamilton Gymnasium.

8:40

And whereas in October of 1999, the City of Novato successfully completed a significant renovation of a former hardware store, culminating in the formal opening of the Novato Gymnastics Center, a dedicated facility for gymnastics activities, located at 950 7th Street in downtown Novato.

8:59

And whereas the mission of Novato Gymnastics is to deliver a high-quality youth gymnastics program, encompassing early motor coordination, preschool child development, recreational activities, and competitive opportunities, aligning with the cities of Novato's commitment to enrich individual and community life.

9:16

We're as a city, whereas the City of Novato is committed to supporting facilities, recreation programs, and services that foster a healthy, caring, and connected community.

9:26

Whereas the Novato Gymnastics Center has become a vibrant hub for Novato fun, fitness, and recreation, becoming a source of great community pride, serving over 800 youth participants weekly, equating to approximately 4,000 participants annually through gymnastics classes, camps, and competitive team programming.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Procedural███████████████████████████████████35%

Parks and Recreation███████████████████████23%

Public Engagement████████████████16%

Personnel Matters█████5%

Public Safety███3%

Community Engagement███3%

Disability Rights███3%

Fiscal Sustainability██2%

Environmental Protection██2%

Summary of Proceedings

Novato City Council Meeting: October 8, 2024 – Proclamations, Playground Design, Policy Manual, and More

The Novato City Council met on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chambers. The meeting included three proclamations, a proposed agenda item on digital safety, public comment on the upcoming Measure M sales tax, approval of a playground design for Hoog Park with a $264,699.38 equipment purchase, and extensive discussion of updates to the City Council Policy Manual. The meeting adjourned after 10:30 PM with a closed session announced.

Consent Calendar

Approved by a 5–0 vote. Items included: routine approval of minutes, a right-of-way acquisition at 870 Cypress Ave for the Novato Boulevard Improvement Project, receipt of the first quarter payment register, a resolution to issue an RFQ/I for real estate advisory services (item G.5 pulled for separate discussion), and a $197,375 agreement with DLB Construction Consulting for remediation at Lee Gerner Park.

Public Comments & Testimony

Bernie Myers, former council member, opposed Measure M, arguing it lacks a sunset clause and guardrails. He cited fiscal mismanagement and urged a 'no' vote.
Larissa Thomas, chair of the Finance Advisory Committee, supported Measure M, stating Novato spends about $900 per resident compared to San Rafael's $1,200 and Petaluma's $1,050, and that the city is physically larger and underfunded.
Elizabeth Sleeth announced the 2025 Novato Citizen of the Year nomination process, with a deadline of November 25, 2024.
Barbara Cherry reported over 10 break-ins at her downtown apartment, including theft of her stepfather's WWII medal, and described ongoing vandalism.
Gene MacLeme, former council member, supported Measure M without sunset or guardrails, citing historical underfunding due to low property tax rates, Prop 13, state mandates, and dissolution of redevelopment agencies.
Suzanne Brown Crow supported Measure M, emphasizing the city's structural deficit and need for funding to maintain roads, police, parks, and employee retention.
Mike L. criticized the police department's handling of his brother's fentanyl death, alleged bias against homeless individuals, and expressed concerns about crime at Lee Gerner Park.

Discussion Items

Proposed Agenda Item – Digital Safety Course (O'Connor): Mayor Pro Tem O'Connor proposed creating a digital safety course for children aged 10–16, citing statistics: two-thirds of children aged 8–12 exposed to cyber risks, 500,000 online predators daily, 75% of child sexual solicitation crimes unreported, and 40% of children remove privacy settings. Council discussed partnering with the school district, police department, and other agencies. Councilmember Eklund suggested contacting the League of California Cities and school district. Councilmember Farac expressed full support. Council voted to bring the item back for further discussion with staff scope and cost estimate, and to contact other agencies for existing programs. Motion passed 5–0.
J.1 – Hoog Park Playground Design: Parks Director Katie Gauntlett presented the design for Joseph Hoog Community Park, funded by $200,000 in Game Time grant, $200,000 in facilities funds, and $520,000 in ARPA dollars. The playground equipment purchase must be made by October 25, 2024, and ARPA funds must be encumbered by December 31, 2024. Community engagement included 204 survey responses (97.1% Novato residents, 56.4% from 94949 zip code), and a June 27 in-person meeting with 30 adults and 14 children. Survey results: 77.5% prioritized swings, 74.5% preferred rubberized poured-in-place (PIP) surfacing, and 72.5% wanted perimeter fencing. Council heard extensive public comment: some advocating for PIP for accessibility (e.g., Alia Barksdale, mother of a child with a rare genetic syndrome; Scotty Marie Barksdale; Joyce Nury; Alicia Incho Oga; Christian Burke; Emily Larson), and others opposing PIP due to toxicity concerns (e.g., Philip Wyatt, Janine Para, Piper). Councilmember Eklund raised EPA concerns about lead in rubber materials. Councilmember Farac proposed using PIP for Hoog Park and engineered wood fiber for a future park (Marin Highlands). Councilmember O'Connor noted PIP is more accessible than engineered wood fiber. Mayor Milberg clarified swing seat options. Council approved the design and purchase agreement (5–0), with direction to staff to explore natural materials for future parks.
J.2 – City Council Policy Manual Update: City Attorney Gary Bell introduced the manual, which includes a loan policy added as directed. Council reviewed and proposed numerous amendments, including: requiring the city manager to live in California (not just Novato), changing 'inconvenient' to 'unable' for mayor signing authority, clarifying that council members shall not give orders to staff but may request information from the city manager and/or city clerk, adding annual performance review for the city attorney, changing 'will' to 'may' in media relations language, restricting social media interaction with other council members, updating time references from 10:30 PM to 10 PM, deleting the section on 'City Council Business' (page 19), removing the 'Correspondence to District Representative' section (added 'copied on' language), deleting the 'Expectations' section (pages 94-98), and modifying the enforcement section to remove the ability to agendize violations. Council also discussed adding a sanctions policy but deferred to a future meeting after the manual is adopted. Council directed staff to incorporate all changes and bring the manual back on consent at the November meeting.

Key Outcomes

Approved: Consent Calendar (5–0).
Approved: Proposed agenda item to return for a full discussion on digital safety course (5–0).
Approved: Hoog Park playground design and $264,699.38 equipment purchase agreement (5–0).
Approved: Resolution to issue RFQ/I for Real Estate Advisory Services (item G.5) (5–0).
Deferred: Council Policy Manual adoption to November 2024 meeting; staff to incorporate all amendments discussed and bring back on consent.
Deferred: Discussion of a sanctions policy to a future meeting.
Deferred: Item J.3 (Construction Management Plan policy) to a future meeting after staff and council coordination.
Closed Session: No reportable action.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the Novato City Council meeting for Tuesday, October 8th, 2024. Like to uh call on the VFW Color Guard will lead us in the pledge, so please remain seated until you're told to stand up. Thank you. Uncovered. No, not you guys. Face the flag, hand over heart, hand salute. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and voice stands in the world. Be seated. Thank you. Okay. Tonight we have a proclamation recognizing the veterans of foreign wars of the United States with Donald V. Westland, post seven eight sixteen in Novato. I'll go ahead and read this and I'll ask if you have any comments, and then we'll have you take a picture in front of the Novato Proud sign over there. Whereas the Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW was founded in 1899, is a nonprofit 501c 19 organization of men and women who have served in hostile or combat zones on foreign soil. And whereas the Novato VFW Donald V. Westland Post 7816, chartered in 1949, is the last remaining VW V VFW post in Marin County and is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. And whereas VFW post seven eighty seventy-eight sixteen was named to honor Donald V. Westland, the first Novado resident to be killed in World War World World War II. Donald, who enlisted in the Army in 1941, was taken prisoner on May 7, 1942, at the fall of Corrigador, survived the Bataan Death March, and subsequently died when the Japanese prisoner ship he was on was sunk. And whereas the VFW organization is fraternal, patriotic, historical, charitable, and educational, and whereas the VFW guiding principles are to preserve and strengthen comradeship among its members, to assist worthy comrades, to perpetuate the memory and history of our dead, to assist their surviving spouses and orphans, to maintain true allegiance to the government of the United States, to pledge fidelity to its Constitution and laws, to foster true patriotism, to maintain and extend the institutions of American freedom, to preserve and defend the United States from all enemies, and whereas the Novato VFW Post 7816, with over a hundred members, is an integral and vibrant organization supporting many community activities. And whereas Novato Post 7816 raises funds from Buddy Poppy donations on Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Veterans Day, with a hundred percent of the funds raised given to support veterans and their families in need. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the City Council of the City of Novato honors, thanks, and supports the veteran men and women of our VFW Post 7816 and expresses deep gratitude to those that have made the ultimate sacrifice. Thank you. Thank you. Yes, I'm congratulations. Good evening, all, and thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh looking here, I see the core of our community, and it's really remarkable to see there's an activity that you really can put your teeth into. We also, as uh veterans, are very interested in outreach and working with our community, and we're finding many ways to do so. But I'd like to just say thank you to you all for this wonderful honor and the proclamation, and most especially to Gene MacLeme, who really is part of our lay-son in uh many things, including, if you haven't seen it, the brick collection outside, which is a memorial that'll be here for a long time after most of us are gone. And thank you for putting that together as well. We are very happy to be in our community. We represent all of you, all of you, and we, as veterans, love our country, our flag, and our community. Thank you. Thank you, Rick. Thank you so much. If you would please go ahead and take a picture, all of you over by the Novato Proud Sign, we'd really appreciate it, and thank you again for your service. It's always a pleasure to see you all. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Oh, sorry. Thank you. Thank you, Larry. Thank you. Thank you. We're going to go ahead and move on to the next proclamation. And we'd like to call up Perry Sue. Perry Sue has served as recreation supervisor in the Parks, Rec, and Community Services Department, overseeing the Novato Gymnastics Center and Gymnastics Youth Programming since 1998.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI

TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com