The Novato City Council held a special meeting to honor and celebrate the life and legacy of Councilmember Mark Milberg, who passed away while in office. Colleagues, community leaders, and friends delivered heartfelt tributes, emphasizing his dedication, kindness, and profound impact on the city.
Order, arms. About faith. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the eye of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under your eye. I had the great privilege of serving alongside Councilmember Milburg. And I'm really honored to be able to just be here to say a few words to open this up. Today we're going to hear from many others. This room is also full of many current and former elected officials. It means so much that you would come here to honor Mark in this way to support the City of Novato in this way. And I just want to start by recognizing all of those current and former elected officials. So thank you so much. And Mark was always very complimentary. He'd always come up and say something afterwards. And later on, I learned that he was a poet and very inclined to writing, and I really think that he was just humoring me for giving it a good try. But I cannot think of a more fitting tribute to Mark for somebody that just makes rhymes to recognize a prolific writer and poet like Mark Milberg. So this is for him. We're here to celebrate the legacy of our dear friend. His contributions will live on. This isn't the end. Not to make a pun, but he truly left his mark. Whether mobile homes, childcare, or Pioneer Park. He started serving through the Finance Oversight Committee, but that was just the start of his role in this city. A man of integrity and free of bias, he was destined to serve on this council dais. In 2021, he was appointed as the unanimous pick, joining Eklund, Lucan, Athis, and Warnick. He quickly stepped up from the new kid on the block, where he welcomed O'Connor, Jacobs, and Farok. In 2024, Mark took the gavel in the mayoral seat. He was all over town and never missed a beat. Serving on other boards, he wore many hats, diving deep into details, metrics, and all the stats. He certainly loves serving on the board of Smart, where riding the train was close to his heart. And at Tan, he focused on the first and last mile, and he always showed up with that incredible smile. He did wear one hat that I'd like to forget, but as a Dodgers fan, he was as good as they get. Coffees, lunches, and the occasional call. He always asked about family above all. To Lauren, the family, and your entire crew, sharing Mark with us deserves a huge thank you. We will share some laughs and we will shed some tears as Mark's impacts will be felt for many, many years. Thank you, Mark Milberg. And with that, I'd like to introduce members of the Nevada City Council to come up next. Starting with uh Vice Mayor Farak. Eric, I was hoping you would do a rhyme because Mark loved them so much and would always be the first one to run up to you and say, that was fantastic. Thank you all for being here to celebrate a life that has been loved. I first met Mark when I served as a leadership mentor. That year, the team was so strong, I didn't have to do much. But even then, Mark stood out. He was thoughtful, engaged, and had quite strength that made people feel heard. I had the honor of serving alongside Mark on the Novato City Council for three years. It's a unique relationship, full of long hours, tough decisions, and shared responsibilities. Through it all, Mark was steady, a team player, respectful, and always focused on what was best for Novato. Sitting next to him on the dais was a joy. He brought warmth, humor, and a calming presence to every meeting.