The Novato City Council met on February 26, 2025, at 6:00 PM. The meeting included ceremonial recognitions, a presentation from the Marin/Sonoma Mosquito Vector Control District, approval of a consent calendar, a public hearing for the Greek Orthodox Church master plan, and discussion of the FY 2025/26 budget calendar. All votes were recorded with tallies.
The Council unanimously approved the Consent Calendar (5-0) which included:
Good everybody and welcome to the Novato City Counciling of Tuesday, February 25th. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republicans, when the visible thank you. Laura, if you take roll, please. Councilmember Eklund. Present. Councilmember Jacobs. Here. Councilmember Milberg. Present. Mayor Pro Tem Farak. President and Mayor O'Connor. Present. Thank you. The council did meet in closed session before the meeting this evening. And Gary, can you provide a report out on that? Yeah, thank you, Mayor and Council members. No reportable action from close session. Thank you. We've got a couple of ceremonial matters. Uh this the this uh this afternoon, this evening of jet lag. I'm eight hours off, sorry. Um first I'd like to invite the city council to join me up front to recognize Chief Bill Tyler. You get to be front and center. Thanks for having me. Well, I think everyone in this room knows Chief Tyler, and that this is very formal. I want to give each council member an opportunity to say a few words as well because I think everybody has worked with you many times over the years. Um so I'll do the stuffy bit to start. Um so Chief Tyler, uh, we want to recognize you for 29 years of dedicated community service. Whereas the City of Novado would like to recognize and thank Chief Bill Tyler for his dedication and service to Novado residents upon his retirement. And whereas Chief Tyler is an experienced service-driven leader, demonstrating a strong history of successfully applying the vision, mission, values, and guiding principles of the Novato Fire Protection District, and whereas a native Californian he completed his paramedic training at the Stanford Pre-Hospital Paramedic Program and Palo Alto and his bachelor's degree from Cal State Hayward. And whereas Chief Tyler began his fire service career in 1994 as a firefighter trainee with the Tamil Pius Fire District and was hired as a full-time professional firefighter paramedic with the Novato Fire Protection District in January of 96, rising through the ranks to become chief in 2018, which is that's the way to do it. And whereas Chief Tyler has been an instrumental member of a group of local fire chiefs and city managers with the formation of the Marin Wildfire Protection Authority. His leadership has ensured a regional approach to wildfire resilience, and whereas Chief Tyler has been the operations committee chair for the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority, a member of the United Policyholders Wildfire Risk Reduction and Asset Protection Initiative sharing strategies for increasing parcel and community ride mitigations, advocating for insurance discounts, renewal reward, and financial assistance for wildfire reduction. And this is the long one. He's an active, he's active in the community as a member of the Rotary Club of Nevada Sunrise, a parent coordinator. You can clap. A parent coordinator for the Samarin Robotics Club, a veteran coach for the Novato Youth Soccer Association, amen. Whereas he was an employee of the year for the Nevada Fire Protection District in 2004 and received the Ed Stark Achievement Award from the Novato Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program in 2009. And whereas Chief Tyler's outstanding services helped to make Marin County and the Novato community a stronger, better, and safer to live and safer, sorry, safer place to live and work by reducing wildfire risk and increasing community disaster resilience. Now, therefore, it be it proclaimed that the City Council of the City of Novato, on behalf of his residents and city staff, gratefully acknowledge Chief Tyler for his 29 years of dedicated public service to the Nevada Fire District and wish him the absolute very best in the many adventures that come ahead. Congratulations to you. Thank you. March Chief Tyler, it's been a real honor and pleasure to get to know you. I think you would be in the Hall of Fame if there was such a thing. Maybe there is, I believe. But uh your dedication to the community, watching you in action, how you show up and be present when you're delivering your message when you're you know leading your your core. It's just been phenomenal to work with you. And I know you're gonna have a great retirement.