Novato City Council Meeting - January 14, 2025
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Novato City Council Meeting - January 14, 2025
The Novato City Council met on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 6:00 PM. The meeting included ceremonial recognition of retiring police K-9 Rookie, public comments heavily focused on opposition to a proposed anti-camping ordinance (Consent Calendar item G.4), a public hearing and approval of updates to accessory dwelling unit (ADU) regulations, and annual appointment of council members to regional boards and committees. The consent calendar was approved despite significant public testimony urging removal of the anti-camping item.
Ceremonial Matters
- Retirement of Police K-9 Rookie and Introduction of K-9 Koda: Officer Angel Masias was honored for his service with K-9 Rookie, who served since 2019 in patrol, suspect apprehension, and narcotics detection. Rookie was presented with a certificate, treats, and a retirement badge. A new K-9, Koda, was introduced.
Consent Calendar
- The consent calendar (items G.1 through G.10) was approved by a vote of 4-0, with Mayor O'Connor recusing himself from item G.7 (Bahia streetlight pole replacement contract) due to a property interest. Notable items included:
- G.4: Adoption of Ordinance 1719 repealing and amending unlawful camping provisions. This item drew extensive public opposition (see Public Comments).
- G.5: Agreement with Burke, Williams & Sorensen LLP for labor negotiations (up to $100,000).
- G.6: Funding agreement for Olive Avenue trash capture device design ($311,250).
- G.7: Construction contract award to DC Electric Group for streetlight pole replacement ($365,900).
- G.8: Resolution updating Finance Advisory Commission roles to include Measure M oversight.
- G.9: Receive and file Fiscal Year 2022/2023 Measure F Report.
- G.10: Receive and file second quarter payment register.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Opposition to Ordinance 1719 (G.4): Multiple speakers urged the council to remove G.4 from the consent calendar and vote against it. Speakers argued:
- The ordinance criminalizes homelessness, is punitive rather than compassionate, and will not solve the underlying housing shortage.
- Camp Compassion – a previous encampment that provided case management and led to housing – was a successful model that should be reinstated.
- Ticketing unhoused individuals creates criminal records, making it harder to find housing and erodes trust in outreach workers.
- The process was rushed, with insufficient notice and public discussion.
- Speakers included Lauren Vreeland Long (Marin Organizing Committee, 30+ year resident), Pat Langley, Tara Evans (street chaplain), Heidi, Sarah McAvoy, Jason Seris, Sarah Sorensen (formerly homeless), Saloma Lux, Arthur Bruce, Sam Melito (personal testimony of how Camp Compassion helped him), John Sanford, Jessica Page Schreider, and Bambi Kleis. Many emphasized the need for housing-first solutions and evidence-based policy.
- Support for Ordinance 1719: One speaker, Sean Fisher, expressed support, stating that public spaces (especially the library) have seen increased drug use and unsafe conditions, and that the ordinance is necessary to maintain safety and redirect resources to effective solutions. He argued that compassion should not mean permissiveness.
- Other: Dean Moser raised concerns about water billing at Marin Valley Mobile Country Club, a city-owned property, urging installation of individual meters.
Discussion Items
- Public Hearing – ADU and JADU Ordinance Updates (Item I.1): Senior Planner Vivek Damodaran presented proposed amendments to Novato Municipal Code Sections 19.34.030 and 19.34.032 to comply with recent state laws (AB 2221, SB 897, AB 2533, SB 1211). Key changes include:
- Eliminating the two-step planning permit process for most ADUs, requiring only a building permit.
- Increasing height limits from 16 to 18 feet for ADUs near major transit stops or on lots with multi-story multifamily buildings, and up to 25 feet for attached ADUs.
- Prohibiting enforcement of front setbacks if they preclude an 800 sq ft ADU meeting other standards (state-mandated).
- Extending amnesty for unpermitted ADUs built before January 1, 2020 (previously 2018).
- Staff recommended adoption to streamline ADU construction and meet RHNA housing goals. Councilmember Eklund asked clarifying questions about architectural matching, neighbor notification, setback requirements, and conflicts with HOA covenants. Councilmember Milberg noted a letter from the California Housing Defense Fund regarding deed restrictions; staff noted that some provisions are discretionary and that HCD will review the ordinance. The public hearing was opened and closed with no public speakers. The council voted 5-0 to introduce the ordinance.
- Council Committee Assignments (Item J.1): The council discussed and approved appointments to various regional, state, and local boards and commissions. Notable assignments:
- Countywide Priority Setting Committee: Councilmember Milberg (primary), Mayor Pro Tem Farac (alternate).
- Marin Clean Energy Board: Mayor Pro Tem Farac (regular), herself as alternate.
- Marin Emergency Radio Authority: Mayor Pro Tem Farac (regular), Councilmember Jacobs (alternate).
- North Bay Watershed Association: Councilmember Eklund (primary), Councilmember Milberg (alternate).
- Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) Board: Mayor Pro Tem Farac (regular), Councilmember Eklund (alternate) – after discussion, Farac retained the regular seat due to her sea level rise work.
- Safe Routes to School: Councilmember Eklund (regular).
- Sea Level Rise Governance Steering Committee: Councilmember Eklund (regular), Councilmember Jacobs (alternate).
- Bay Wave: Councilmember Eklund (regular), Councilmember Jacobs (alternate).
- Climate Change Committee: Councilmember Eklund (regular), Mayor Pro Tem Farac (alternate).
- Homeless Policy Committee: Councilmember Jacobs (regular), Councilmember Milberg (alternate).
- Legislative Committee: Councilmember Eklund (regular), Councilmember Jacobs (alternate).
- The appointments were approved by unanimous vote (5-0).
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar Approved: Passed 4-0 (Mayor O'Connor recused on item G.7). Ordinance 1719 (anti-camping) was adopted as part of the consent calendar.
- ADU Ordinance Introduced: Approved 5-0. The ordinance will be submitted to the California Department of Housing and Community Development for review.
- Committee Assignments Approved: Unanimous vote (5-0) on all appointments.
- Meeting Adjourned: The council adjourned in memory of former President Jimmy Carter and Joe Garberino Jr. (Marin Sanitary Service). The next regular meeting is scheduled for January 28, 2025.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. Welcome to the Nevada City Council meeting of Tuesday, January 14th. Please join me for the Pledge of Allegiance. One nation. Thank you. Laura, would you please call roll? Councilmember Eklund? Present. Councilmember Jacobs. Present. Councilmember Milberg? Present. Mayor Pro Tem Farrak. Present. And Mayor O'Connor. Present. Thank you. The City Council met in closed session earlier. City Attorney Bell, would you report that? Yeah, thank you, Mayor and Councilmembers. Council met in closed session earlier today, starting at 4 30 and before the workshop. Council unanimously approved filing three actions. The actions, defendants, and other particulars will be disclosed to anyone upon inquiry once those things have formally commenced. Thank you. Okay. We have one ceremonial matter this evening. We're going to be celebrating the retirement of police canine rookie and introducing our new police canine coda. So I'd like to invite the city council to join me at the front of the room along with police chief Jim Noggle, Officer Angel Masias, and Police Canine Rookie. Okay, so I'm gonna give you some information on our guests this evening. So Officer Messias was hired into the Navado Police Department in 2016. Since then he has served in the Patrol Bureau. Prior to his service with the Nevada Police Department, Officer Masias served honorably in the United States Marine Corps from 2010 to 2014. He was also selected to the position of canine handler in December of 2019 and paired with K9 Rookie. In addition to his canine handler duties, Officer Masius is a member of the Department of Bicycle Patrol team. He and Rookie are both members of the Department Spot team. And the Canine Rookie is a Belgian Malowir. I don't know if I said that right, but I tried. During his tour, he patrolled the streets of Nevada with Officer Masias, some was used in various forms. Rookie is trained in handler protection, suspect apprehension, and narcotics detection. In addition to assisting and serving the residents of Navado, Rookie was called upon by other law enforcement agencies in Marin County to assist them with suspect and evidence location needs. We are incredibly grateful for Rookie's time at the Nevada Police Department and thank him for our for his service to the community. And in recognition of that, I would like to present you with a certificate. Yeah, thank you. And and one of the things is this deserves great recognition because like every other cop, when when we go off duty, we get to go home and forget about being on duty. When you're a canine handler, you don't get that opportunity. You're always a canine handler. You've always got your dog, and so it's quite an additional responsibility. And so thank you, Officer Masias, for your time. And uh so what we've done is we've got a plot for him and canine rookie, just as a thank you. And then the department couldn't let rookie go without something, so they donated money, got a nice box of dog treats, and uh and a retirement badge for his collar.
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