OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Novado City Council Meeting on September 9, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, September 9, 2025
BodyNovato, California
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, September 9, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:46:32
Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Good evening and welcome to the City of Novado Council meeting for Tuesday, September 9th.

0:04

Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:09

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic, for which it stands.

0:17

One nation under God, indivisible liberty, as us for all.

0:25

Thank you.

0:28

Councilmember Eklund.

0:30

Present.

0:31

Councilmember Jacobs.

0:32

Present.

0:33

Councilmember Milberg.

0:34

Present.

0:34

Mayor Tem Farak, present, and Mayor O'Connor.

0:38

Present.

0:38

Thank you.

0:38

That passes 5-0.

0:40

The city council did meet in closed session this evening.

0:42

There's nothing to report out at this time.

0:43

The council will hold another closed session upon adjournment of the open session this evening.

0:48

Moving on to approval of the final agenda.

0:50

Can I have a motion?

0:51

I would like to move the agenda with the change.

0:57

Um that I am here.

1:00

I don't need to be remote.

1:02

So I'd like to uh remove that item from the agenda.

1:06

So a motion to approve the removal G2.

1:09

Second by Council Member.

1:11

If you'd call the vote, please, Laura.

1:12

Councilmember Eklund.

1:13

Aye.

1:13

Councilmember Jacobs.

1:15

Aye.

1:15

Councilmember Milberg.

1:16

Aye.

1:17

Mayor Temperat.

1:18

Aye.

1:19

And Mayor O'Connor.

1:20

Hi.

1:21

Zero.

1:21

Next uh reports from City Council and City Manager, starting with the City Manager Cunningham.

1:27

Thank you, Mayor.

1:28

I don't have any reports tonight.

1:30

Thanks.

1:30

Councilmember Milburg.

1:33

Thank you, Mayor.

1:35

First report was on Wednesday, the 27th, joined by three of my council member colleagues for the North Bay Children's Center ribbon cutting event.

1:48

It's been now titled the Al and Lisa Brayton campus.

1:53

It was also the official launch of their innovative learning lab.

1:58

And Eric Lucan spoke, Josh Friday spoke, Jennifer Newsom Siebel spoke.

2:03

She is now the first partner with Governor Newsom.

2:08

And it was joyous.

2:10

It was really a life-changing beginning for generations to come.

2:14

Extremely proud of what what's been built here in Novado.

2:18

And uh I'm I'm so excited because it is an intergenerational change.

2:22

And to watch the children's uh faces and to see the enthusiasm about learning how to uh garden and how to cook uh is extremely gratifying.

2:32

So that's that was on the uh 27th.

2:35

On the 28th, there was a leadership nevato alumni reception at Valley Memorial Park.

2:41

It was really well attended.

2:42

There was tons of fun.

2:44

Um I want to thank Kim Staley and her colleagues for putting passion and excellence into their leadership Novato program.

2:51

Also, went to a chamber of networking at Vinnie G's on Thursday, the fourth.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Economic Development██████████████████████████26%
Public Safety████████████████████████24%
Homelessness█████████████13%
Environmental Protection████████████12%
Procedural█████████9%
Community Engagement███████7%
Personnel Matters███████7%
Engineering And Infrastructure██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Novado City Council Meeting

The Novado City Council met on September 9, 2025, to approve the agenda, hear council reports, receive public testimony on SEIU contract negotiations and homeless encampments, discuss the tourism committee's annual report, and review conceptual policies for the General Plan Safety Element update.

Consent Calendar

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

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Nick M., a city employee in Unit D, expressed support for the SEIU proposal, advocating for fair wages based on comparable agencies.
  • Robbie Palison, representing the Hamilton encampment, urged collaboration with the city and highlighted community efforts like weekly barbecues.
  • Jennifer Mallow clarified misinformation about the encampment and called for empathy and housing solutions.
  • Jason Service, an unhoused individual, described mobility challenges and requested city assistance in finding safe housing.
  • Heidi criticized the council for criminalizing homelessness and not supporting SEIU, demanding dignity for workers and unhoused people.
  • Perry Sue, a recreation supervisor and Unit D member, emphasized the need for a fair contract to address recruitment and retention issues.
  • Brian Skinner expressed concerns about the encampment's impact on safety and programs like Homeward Bound, urging enforcement of the no-camping ordinance.
  • Jana Blunt, representing SEIU, presented a cost breakdown and urged council to approve the contract proposal to avoid impasse.
  • David Tillotson shared his personal experience of homelessness and disappointment with the city's response.
  • Joan, a resident, asked for action to close encampments and safely relocate individuals.

Discussion Items

  • Tourism Committee Report: Garrett Garillo presented marketing activities, digital campaigns, and future plans. Council members discussed economic development ties, pet inclusivity, trade shows, and metrics for tourism growth.
  • General Plan Safety Element Update: Jacqueline Prozmann Rohr presented climate change vulnerabilities, community outreach findings, and conceptual policies. Council members provided feedback on managed retreat, sea level rise adaptation, evacuation routes, and inclusion of vulnerable populations like young families.

Key Outcomes

  • The agenda was approved with a modification to remove a remote participation item.
  • The consent calendar passed 5-0.
  • The council adopted a resolution accepting the Novato Chamber of Commerce Tourism Committee report for FY 2425 and the budget for FY 2526.
  • No formal action was taken on the safety element update; staff was directed to incorporate feedback into the draft.
  • The meeting was adjourned in memory of John Burton.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening and welcome to the City of Novado Council meeting for Tuesday, September 9th. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic, for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible liberty, as us for all. Thank you. Councilmember Eklund. Present. Councilmember Jacobs. Present. Councilmember Milberg. Present. Mayor Tem Farak, present, and Mayor O'Connor. Present. Thank you. That passes 5-0. The city council did meet in closed session this evening. There's nothing to report out at this time. The council will hold another closed session upon adjournment of the open session this evening. Moving on to approval of the final agenda. Can I have a motion? I would like to move the agenda with the change. Um that I am here. I don't need to be remote. So I'd like to uh remove that item from the agenda. So a motion to approve the removal G2. Second by Council Member. If you'd call the vote, please, Laura. Councilmember Eklund. Aye. Councilmember Jacobs. Aye. Councilmember Milberg. Aye. Mayor Temperat. Aye. And Mayor O'Connor. Hi. Zero. Next uh reports from City Council and City Manager, starting with the City Manager Cunningham. Thank you, Mayor. I don't have any reports tonight. Thanks. Councilmember Milburg. Thank you, Mayor. First report was on Wednesday, the 27th, joined by three of my council member colleagues for the North Bay Children's Center ribbon cutting event. It's been now titled the Al and Lisa Brayton campus. It was also the official launch of their innovative learning lab. And Eric Lucan spoke, Josh Friday spoke, Jennifer Newsom Siebel spoke. She is now the first partner with Governor Newsom. And it was joyous.

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