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Record of Proceedings

Novato City Council Meeting on July 22, 2025: Project Approvals and Ordinance Adoption

City Council — Tuesday, July 22, 2025
BodyNovato, California
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, July 22, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:33:27

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:01

Good evening and welcome to the Novato City Council meeting for Tuesday, July 22nd.

0:05

Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:19

One nation.

0:21

And it's all being just called roll.

0:31

Councilmember Eklund.

0:33

Present.

0:33

Councilmember Jacobs.

0:35

Present.

0:35

Councilmember Milberg.

0:36

Present.

0:37

Mayor Pro Tem Farak.

0:38

Present and Mayor O'Connor.

0:40

Present, thank you.

0:41

There was no closed session this evening, so our first item will be a ceremonial presentation for the Fourth of July parade winners.

0:48

I'd like to invite council and the members of the Fourth of July Parade Committee to meet me up front, please.

1:11

Thanks.

1:18

Okay.

1:27

So this is one of my favorite things to do because this is the coolest trophy in all of Nevada.

1:32

Straight up.

1:33

I'd like to introduce you to some members of the Fourth of July Parade Committee.

1:37

We all know there's a Fourth of July Parade.

1:39

What you may not know is that it's entirely hosted by volunteers every year who start planning.

1:43

You've probably started planning already, frankly.

1:46

Fifteen people put that put it on.

1:47

It's close to a hundred floats, if not more, every year.

1:50

And they do such a terrific job.

1:52

So I just wanted to introduce you to Jennifer Goldfinger, who is the chair, and I want to give her the opportunity to say a few words and also introduce the members of her committee this evening.

1:58

Thank you.

1:59

Thank you.

2:00

Hi, good evening.

2:01

I hope a lot of you came to the parade.

2:04

I know that some of you did.

2:05

The chief did, I know, and other people.

2:08

Um hope the council enjoyed being in the parade again.

2:12

To my left is Beth Windsor, who coordinated the judges who decided on the winner.

2:18

Uh next is Sue Royce.

2:20

Next is Tim O'Connor.

2:22

Mark's not on the committee.

2:24

Um, and Sophia Osotio, who is one of the vice chairs, and she does the volunteers and Lord knows what else, but lots of stuff.

2:33

Um, we love doing this, it's a labor of love.

2:37

Um, and as Tim said, we are already starting on next year's parade.

2:43

So if you're interested, please join us.

2:46

One thing we will be needing is lots, lots more event day volunteers.

2:51

So planting the seed early.

2:53

Thank you.

2:54

Thank you, Jennifer.

3:00

And so this evening we get to recognize the best in parade winner, which for this year was Rhythms Performing Arts.

3:06

And with us is Kate Kenya.

3:07

Come on up, Kate.

3:18

So you get to take home this beautiful trophy in a minute.

3:21

Um Kate, along with Amanda Nelson, co-owned Rhythms.

3:25

Um, this is not their only big achievement this year, it's also your 20th year in business, if I'm not mistaken.

3:30

So 20 years uh educating and teaching and supporting Nevada's youth.

3:34

Um I've been to a few of your shows.

3:37

Um I'd say on an average year, you've got to have a couple of hundred kids come through your doors, right?

3:41

Yes.

3:41

So over 20 years, what, thousands of children probably?

3:44

Yeah.

3:44

Like the impression you guys have made in our community is magnificent.

3:47

So not just congratulations on this, but also 20 years of wonderful work.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████████████████25%
Land Use Policy█████████████13%
Environmental Protection████████████12%
Public Safety███████████11%
Procedural█████5%
Parks and Recreation█████5%
Affordable Housing█████5%
Transportation Safety████4%
Fiscal Sustainability████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Novato City Council Meeting on July 22, 2025

The Novato City Council convened on July 22, 2025, beginning with a ceremonial recognition of Fourth of July parade winners. The council approved the agenda, heard reports from members and the city manager, received public testimony on various issues, and held public hearings on the Olive Avenue Widening Project and a dangerous buildings ordinance, ultimately adopting both measures.

Consent Calendar

  • The consent calendar was approved unanimously with a 5-0 vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Karen Mortenson, a resident of Marin Valley, questioned how the council balances maximizing city income with preserving low-income senior housing.
  • Patty Hoyt, a longtime Novato resident, thanked the city for respecting First Amendment rights during protests and rallies, emphasizing their commitment to nonviolent action.
  • Sergio Barajas, representing Carpenter's Union Local 35, urged the council to enforce strong labor standards in development projects to ensure fair wages, health benefits, and local hiring.
  • Sarah Sorensen advocated for increasing pay for Novato Police Department officers to attract and retain talent, citing their professionalism and respect.
  • Janine Bradley, a resident of Marin Valley Mobile Country Club, expressed support for affordable, community-oriented senior housing as essential for sustainability.
  • Meg Jordan, also a resident of Marin Valley, appreciated the city's response to their proposal and resolved to work towards a resident-owned affordable community.

Discussion Items

  • Olive Avenue Widening and Utility Undergrounding Project: Associate Engineer Peter Scala and consultant Rob Garnahan presented the project, highlighting goals to improve safety, drainage, and underground utilities. Council deliberations focused on mitigation options between purchasing credits at Halo Ranch or implementing habitat enhancements at Pacheco Creek, with cost estimates of approximately $150,000 versus $1-2 million. Questions arose about decision-making authority, storm drain design for 25-year and 100-year events, coordination with SMART for railroad crossing permits, and design choices for bike and pedestrian facilities.
  • Dangerous Buildings Ordinance: Community Development Director Claire Harton presented an ordinance to adopt the uniform code for abatement of dangerous buildings, aimed at streamlining enforcement. Council discussions centered on applicability to occupied versus unoccupied buildings, concerns about potential impacts on historic structures, and clarification of permit timelines, with the city attorney noting that the ordinance primarily regulates external parties and not city-owned assets.

Key Outcomes

  • The final agenda was approved with a 5-0 vote.
  • The consent calendar passed 5-0.
  • A resolution adopting a mitigated negative declaration for the Olive Avenue project was adopted with a 5-0 vote.
  • An ordinance to add the dangerous buildings code was introduced with a 5-0 vote.
  • The next regular meeting was scheduled for August 26, 2025.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening and welcome to the Novato City Council meeting for Tuesday, July 22nd. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. One nation. And it's all being just called roll. Councilmember Eklund. Present. Councilmember Jacobs. Present. Councilmember Milberg. Present. Mayor Pro Tem Farak. Present and Mayor O'Connor. Present, thank you. There was no closed session this evening, so our first item will be a ceremonial presentation for the Fourth of July parade winners. I'd like to invite council and the members of the Fourth of July Parade Committee to meet me up front, please. Thanks. Okay. So this is one of my favorite things to do because this is the coolest trophy in all of Nevada. Straight up. I'd like to introduce you to some members of the Fourth of July Parade Committee. We all know there's a Fourth of July Parade. What you may not know is that it's entirely hosted by volunteers every year who start planning. You've probably started planning already, frankly. Fifteen people put that put it on. It's close to a hundred floats, if not more, every year. And they do such a terrific job. So I just wanted to introduce you to Jennifer Goldfinger, who is the chair, and I want to give her the opportunity to say a few words and also introduce the members of her committee this evening. Thank you. Thank you. Hi, good evening. I hope a lot of you came to the parade. I know that some of you did. The chief did, I know, and other people. Um hope the council enjoyed being in the parade again. To my left is Beth Windsor, who coordinated the judges who decided on the winner. Uh next is Sue Royce. Next is Tim O'Connor. Mark's not on the committee. Um, and Sophia Osotio, who is one of the vice chairs, and she does the volunteers and Lord knows what else, but lots of stuff. Um, we love doing this, it's a labor of love. Um, and as Tim said, we are already starting on next year's parade. So if you're interested, please join us. One thing we will be needing is lots, lots more event day volunteers. So planting the seed early. Thank you. Thank you, Jennifer. And so this evening we get to recognize the best in parade winner, which for this year was Rhythms Performing Arts. And with us is Kate Kenya. Come on up, Kate. So you get to take home this beautiful trophy in a minute.

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