Novato City Council Meeting – March 25, 2025: Budget, Public Works, and Community Reports
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Novato City Council Meeting – March 25, 2025
The Novato City Council met on March 25, 2025, at 6:00 PM. The meeting included a proclamation honoring outgoing school board trustee Ross Millerick, the Police Department's annual report, adoption of the consent calendar, and three major discussion items: a Community Development Department service improvements update, a proposed Construction Management Plan (CMP) policy for private developments, and the Fiscal Year 2024-25 mid-year budget adjustment. The Council received reports, gave staff direction, and adopted a budget resolution.
Ceremonial Matters & Presentations
- Proclamation – Ross Millerick: The Council recognized Ross Millerick's 33 years of service on the Novato Unified School District Board of Education. Speakers included former board president Judy Jacobson. Millerick thanked the Council and stated his intent to work on expanding community college access for Novato.
- Police Department Annual Report: Chief Jim Nagel presented the 2024 report. Highlights: calls for service down, 3 use-of-force incidents, 117 DUI arrests (down from 162 in 2023), DUI collisions reduced from 64 to 28. Community engagement efforts (pop-up stations, Coffee with a Cop, Heroes and Helpers) were emphasized. The department is down to 59 sworn officers (lost one grant-funded school resource officer). Councilmembers commended the department and discussed grant opportunities, K9 program, fentanyl awareness, and the fire mitigation ranger partnership.
Consent Calendar
- Items approved 5-0: G.1 (ordinance introductions), G.2 (meeting minutes), G.3 (zoning ordinance 1723 for emergency shelters), G.4 (seven artist selections for Downtown Utility Box Art Program), G.5 (Ground Lease Amendment for 501 Davidson Street), G.6 (2025 Annual Pavement Rehabilitation project – adopted with the understanding that the Grant Avenue striping plan would return for further discussion), G.7 (roof replacement contract for Margaret Todd Senior Center and Downtown Recreation Center to Diablo Roofing Inc., $753,900 base bid plus contingency).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Fire Mitigation Funding (John Hansen, Carol Joy Harris, Bill Davis): Multiple Marin Valley residents and a fire district board member urged the Council to add $100,000 to the tree trimming/weed abatement budget, citing a 2015 wildfire that came within six feet of homes. They noted that the budget was cut two years ago and that fire experts support the work.
- Leadership Novato Utility Box Art (Dale Klein, Honor Henningzin): The Chamber of Commerce supported the consent calendar item. Henningzin, a queer artist, thanked staff for allowing a piece that includes a pride flag, saying it shows queer youth they are seen and valued.
- Annual Pavement Rehab & Bike Lanes (Amy Harsavonicett, Joaquim Astas, Casey Ward): Multiple Safe Streets Novato members and C SPOC committee members urged the Council to adopt continuous protected bike lanes on Grant Avenue between 7th and 8th Streets as part of the repaving, citing safety for children and connectivity to existing bike infrastructure. Casey Ward asked for more time to refine the design.
- Wrap Restraint Concerns (Mike Vita): Expressed concern that the Novato Police Department continues using wrap restraints without a policy, noting nearby police officers have been charged with murder for similar use.
- RCCS Commission Support (Emily Larson): Chair of the Recreation, Cultural and Community Services Advisory Commission thanked Leadership Novato and staff for the utility box art project.
Discussion Items
- J.1 – Community Development Department Service Improvements Phase 2 (Clare Hartman, Miguel Perez): Presented updates since September 2024. Key actions: added three new staff, hired principal planner, launched residential express permits (75 issued), purchased new permit tracking software (MainStar, expected go-live August 2025), and expanded customer satisfaction surveys (93% rated service as excellent). Council praised the progress and discussed digitization, bilingual services, and staff retention challenges. The report was received.
- J.2 – Construction Management Plan (CMP) Policy for Private Developments (Tim Burke): Proposed developing a department-level policy requiring CMPs for certain projects, modeled after Mill Valley's approach. Council gave initial direction: start with larger projects that require traffic control plans or street closures (e.g., the AB 2011 projects on Grant Avenue), not small residential projects. Staff will refine criteria and bring back a draft for further discussion, possibly through individual council meetings.
- J.3 – Mid-Year Budget Report & Resolution (Jennifer Maldonado, Carla): Proposed adjustments reduce the general fund deficit from $4.3 million to $3.5 million. Revenue increases include $2.6 million from Measure M sales tax, $644,000 in non-departmental revenue (investment earnings, VLF), and $410,700 from community development permit fees. Expenses include $200,000 for weed abatement/potholes, $1.2 million each to emergency and self-insurance reserves, and $100,000 for downtown economic development planning. Council adopted the resolution 5-0.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar approved 5-0; the Grant Avenue pavement project (G.6) will return for design finalization.
- J.1 Service Improvements report received; staff will return with further updates and metrics.
- J.2 CMP policy direction given: focus on large, high-impact private projects (e.g., downtown multi-story developments) that require traffic control; staff to draft policy and meet individually with councilmembers before bringing back.
- J.3 Mid-Year Budget Resolution adopted 5-0, authorizing adjustments to revenue, expenses, and reserves as presented.
- Next regular council meeting scheduled for April 8, 2025.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the City of Novado, a meeting of Tuesday, March 25th. Please let you do this to be nice. Thank you. Laura, if you take roll, please. Councilmember Eckland. Present. Councilmember Jacobs. Councilmember Milbert. Present. Mayor. Here. President, thank you. The city, the council did meet in closed session before this evening's meeting, and I'll turn to go for it. Yes, thank you, Mayor and Council members. There was no reportable action from closed session this evening. Thank you. The first item on our agenda is we're recognizing a very special member of our community this evening, Ross Millerick. So I'd like to invite the city council and Ross Jones up front, and also uh former president Judy Jacobson. Oh wow. Okay. You want you want me to stand like this? Like this? Congratulations. Thank you, sir. Thank you. So everyone knows why we're here to celebrate Ross and his fantastic contributions to the Nevada community. Over 33 years of service is just unimaginable. I could try and summarize it, but I invited Julie up to kind of speak to some of Ross's accomplishments and what he's meant to the board and community over the last three decades. So, Julie. Hello. I'd like to first recognize some of the people in the room who have supported Ross in his journey here. We have current Superintendent Tracy Smith, past Superintendent Jan Derby, County Past Superintendent Mary Jane Burke, we have a past school board member in Derek Nell and current school board members Chandra Alexander, Greg Mack and Magali Lametta. So thank you all and our other district staff for being here. And it's just so nice to get an opportunity to honor Ross for all that he's brought to us. Thank you. So Ross, for your 33 years of service, whereas Ross Miller was sworn in as the newest trustee for the Novato Unified Board of Education in 1991. And whereas you should have gotten out a few years ago. Whereas Ross earned his Master of Science and Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley in 1970 and moved to Novado in 1982, where here where he and his wife Linda raised their daughter Melissa, who is now a teacher in Center Fell. And whereas he is a continuous learner, is always curious, and is the first to raise his hand to ask questions and provide his perspective on the topic at hand. And whereas Ross understands that students do not all fit one mold and need a smaller environment that is personalized, and he attended every review for NUSD's alternative programs. And whereas Ross has ensured that all students had access to programs that met their individual needs, taking a particular interest in programs like Ren Oaks, Nova, and Adult Education. And whereas over the course of the last 33 years, he's served with seven superintendents, 29 trustees, governed at more than 800 board meetings, and has spent literally thousands of hours sitting at the board table. And whereas throughout his tenure, Ross has been an amazing volunteer who has served his community with a positive spirit of collaboration and has always put kids first. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the City Council of the City of Novato on behalf of city staff and our residents offer its heartfelt thanks to Ross Miller for his years of excellent service to the Novato Unified School District. Congratulations, Ross. Thank you very much. As you know, um I'm not directly involved in the K-12 program, but this community needs a community college to support it to carry through K-14, not just K-12. And I intend to take my time that I am now that I have some time available to move to help the College of Marines see a better vision for how they can serve the Novato community. And I invite anybody who wants to participate in that conversation to join me. Thank you.
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