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Record of Proceedings

Novato Planning Commission Meeting on General Plan Safety Element Update - August 11, 2025

City Council — Monday, August 11, 2025
BodyNovato, California
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, August 11, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 53:58
Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Ready when you are all right.

0:07

So, I'd like to call to order the planning commission meeting of Monday, August 11th, 2025.

0:16

And if you would stand with me and we'll do the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:21

Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

0:25

To the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible of liberty and justice for our all.

0:33

Thank you, everyone.

0:35

Do a little roll call here.

0:40

Commissioner Tiernan is not here.

0:43

Commissioner Crockett, here.

0:45

Commissioner Griggy?

0:46

Here.

0:46

Commissioner Havill.

0:48

Commissioner Roche is not here.

0:50

And Commissioner Stuckenbroker.

0:53

Here.

0:54

Wonderful.

0:54

And Commissioner Derby is here.

0:57

Um, and approval of the final agenda.

1:00

Do I have a motion?

1:01

Moved.

1:02

Second.

1:03

Oh, there we go.

1:04

I'm gonna do a quick roll call.

1:05

Commissioner Crockett.

1:06

Hi.

1:07

Commissioner Griggy.

1:08

Aye.

1:08

Commissioner Havill.

1:10

Hi.

1:10

Commissioner Stuckenbroker.

1:11

Hi.

1:12

And Commissioner Derby's and I as well.

1:14

Wonderful.

1:15

I'm gonna open the public comment.

1:17

Um, I don't believe we have any people that can call in for that.

1:21

Uh, the public comment period is for anything that's not on the agenda.

1:24

Seeing nobody in the audience, I will open and close that.

1:31

Going once, going twice, done.

1:33

All right.

1:34

Moving on.

1:35

Uh consent items.

1:37

None.

1:37

Unfinished in other business, none.

1:40

Public hearings, none.

1:42

General business.

1:44

You are up.

1:48

All right.

1:49

Thank you, Commissioners.

1:50

Uh, so my name's Brett Walker, senior planner with the Navado Planning Division.

1:55

So tonight we have a presentation regarding the city's update to its general plan safety element to add policies and programs regarding climate adaptation and resiliency, and also to identify residential developments in hazard areas that have less than two evacuation routes.

2:15

Uh so for this general plan update, the city did hire consultant uh placeworks.

2:21

They're a planning design and environmental consulting firm to assist the city.

2:25

So uh placeworks is joining us tonight remotely, and they'll be making a presentation, and their presentation will cover the work we've done so far, where we're at now, where we're going, and then the focus is going to be on these conceptual policies that placeworks and city staff has identified.

2:47

And out of these conceptual policies, we'll then be drafting uh more specific policies that will then come back to the planning commission and ultimately the city council.

3:00

Uh so with that, I'd like to introduce uh placeworks staff that we have on the call today.

3:07

Uh we've got Jacqueline Protzman Rohr and Tammy Seal.

3:11

And uh at this point, unless you have any questions for me right now, I'm gonna turn it over to Placeworks for their presentation.

3:43

Yes, yes.

4:16

The present presentation will briefly mention each of the steps in the safety element update and overall policy concepts, and then there'll be an opportunity at the end for questions and comments.

4:30

So, as Brett mentioned, the community development department is leading the effort to update the safety element.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Environmental Protection███████████████████████████████████████████43%
Public Safety███████████████████████████27%
Equity in Transportation█████████9%
Procedural██████6%
Community Engagement██████6%
Fiscal Sustainability████4%
Affordable Housing███3%
Land Use Policy██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Novato Planning Commission Meeting on General Plan Safety Element Update

The Novato Planning Commission met on August 11, 2025, primarily to receive a presentation and provide feedback on the city's update to its general plan safety element. The update aims to incorporate climate adaptation and resiliency policies, identify residential developments with fewer than two evacuation routes, and comply with new state laws. Commissioners expressed overall support and raised questions about implementation, collaboration, and data.

Discussion Items

  • Safety Element Update Presentation: Consultants from Placeworks presented the climate change vulnerability assessment, community outreach findings, and conceptual policy topics covering drought, extreme heat, emergency preparedness, flood and sea level rise, fire hazards, human health hazards, and severe weather.
  • Commissioner Questions and Comments:
    • Commissioner Crockett expressed support for the comprehensive plan and raised concerns about long-term timing and funding for implementation.
    • Commissioner Havill shared anecdotes about wildfire risks and sustainable design, emphasizing the importance of the plan's broad scope.
    • Commissioner Griggy asked about data sources (e.g., census data, landslide maps), collaboration with regional agencies (e.g., transit, water districts), evacuation route definitions, and suggested enhancing demographic analysis in vulnerability assessments.
    • Commissioner Stuckenbroker sought assurance that future land use policy changes stemming from the update would return for commission review, which staff confirmed.

Key Outcomes

  • No formal votes or decisions were made; the meeting was informational and for gathering commissioner feedback.
  • Next steps include preparing a draft safety element for public review in September and a city council study session in early September.
  • The commission will review draft policies before final approval.

Meeting Transcript

Ready when you are all right. So, I'd like to call to order the planning commission meeting of Monday, August 11th, 2025. And if you would stand with me and we'll do the Pledge of Allegiance. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. To the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible of liberty and justice for our all. Thank you, everyone. Do a little roll call here. Commissioner Tiernan is not here. Commissioner Crockett, here. Commissioner Griggy? Here. Commissioner Havill. Commissioner Roche is not here. And Commissioner Stuckenbroker. Here. Wonderful. And Commissioner Derby is here. Um, and approval of the final agenda. Do I have a motion? Moved. Second. Oh, there we go. I'm gonna do a quick roll call. Commissioner Crockett. Hi. Commissioner Griggy. Aye. Commissioner Havill. Hi. Commissioner Stuckenbroker. Hi. And Commissioner Derby's and I as well. Wonderful. I'm gonna open the public comment. Um, I don't believe we have any people that can call in for that. Uh, the public comment period is for anything that's not on the agenda. Seeing nobody in the audience, I will open and close that. Going once, going twice, done. All right. Moving on. Uh consent items. None. Unfinished in other business, none. Public hearings, none. General business. You are up. All right. Thank you, Commissioners. Uh, so my name's Brett Walker, senior planner with the Navado Planning Division. So tonight we have a presentation regarding the city's update to its general plan safety element to add policies and programs regarding climate adaptation and resiliency, and also to identify residential developments in hazard areas that have less than two evacuation routes.

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