OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Novato City Council Meeting January 14, 2026: Heritage Tree Appeal, Economic Plan, Appointments

City Council — Wednesday, January 14, 2026
BodyNovato, California
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, January 14, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:40:09
Transcript — Verbatim
0:04

All right, we will start the Novato City Council meeting.

0:08

This is our January 13th, 2026 meeting.

0:12

Welcome everyone and happy new year.

0:15

We'll get started with the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:22

To the flag.

0:23

United.

0:27

Which it stands.

0:29

Under the indivisible.

0:36

Laura, can you please take roll?

0:45

Councilmember Eklund present.

0:48

Councilmember Carkel.

0:49

Present.

0:49

Councilmember O'Connor.

0:51

Present.

0:51

Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs.

0:53

Present.

0:53

And Mayor Farak.

0:54

And I am present.

0:56

There were no closed session items, and there are no ceremonial presentations.

1:02

So we'll move on to approval of the final agenda.

1:05

I'll move approval.

1:06

I'll move approval.

1:09

All right, can you call vote?

1:10

Councilmember Eklund?

1:12

Aye.

1:12

Councilmember Carkle?

1:13

Aye.

1:14

Councilmember O'Connor.

1:15

Aye.

1:16

Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs.

1:17

Aye.

1:18

And Mayor Farak.

1:19

Aye.

1:20

All right, that passes.

1:21

Now we'll go on to reports from the City Council and City Manager.

1:25

We'll start with our city manager, Amy Cunningham.

1:29

Good evening, Council.

1:31

Happy New Year.

1:32

By now, all Nevada residents should have received a new year brochure in the mail from our Parks Recreation and Community Services Department.

1:40

The brochure promotes the fantastic programs and membership offerings happening at Margaret Todd Senior Center.

1:46

The new year's a perfect time to try out a new class or start a new hobby, and Margaret Todd has something for everyone, so please go and check them out.

1:54

The brochure is available at all of our customer service sites, and class offerings can also be viewed on the city website.

2:00

Thank you.

2:01

Thank you very much.

2:09

So I just want to do a shout out to Marcia Basalia who has been organizing the team up to cleanup one Saturday a month so we can clean up Novato.

2:23

And so this Saturday we spent um four hours cleaning up Alameda de La Loma.

2:31

And it's amazing what I picked up.

2:36

But anyway, it really looks a lot better.

2:39

And I will be talking with the city manager about opportunities to help do a little bit more publicity so we can get some more volunteers for that.

2:50

Also, too, I did uh participate in.

2:54

I'm on the ABAG executive board and I'm on several committees, administrative as well as legislative.

3:01

So we had a meeting last week, which I was really struck by, and it was a meeting about how travel has changed between 2019 and 2023.

3:15

And you think about it, between those four years, a lot of things happened, you know, COVID and change and people's travel.

3:23

And it was a very interesting that the number of people using public transit is below the 2019 levels significantly.

3:36

Um so before there used to be 40 million people using public transit, now there's down to 30 million.

3:44

There's also an increase in remote and hybrid work, and what we're not surprised about is that the increase of delivery trucks for food, groceries, packages, or whatever is significantly increased, and not all of those delivery trucks are electric, most of them are not.

4:07

So that's really having a substantial increase in the number of miles traveled, and then also our air uh reduction in our air quality.

4:17

Uh so anyway, just uh we're gonna be doing a lot more studies about this and what impact this has.

4:23

Uh, but since public transit is down so much, um, it's uh concerning.

4:29

Um, I also spent some time at Building 500, which is the Novato Arts Center, this last week.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Environmental Protection████████████████████████████28%
Economic Development██████████████████████22%
Procedural██████████████████18%
Historic Preservation█████████████13%
Public Safety██████6%
Parks and Recreation████4%
Engineering And Infrastructure████4%
Community Engagement███3%
Transportation Safety█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Novato City Council Meeting – January 14, 2026

Note regarding date: The transcript states the meeting was held on January 13, 2026, but the provided timestamp and instructions indicate the meeting took place on January 14, 2026. This summary uses the date specified in the instructions.

The city council convened for a regular meeting featuring a public hearing on an appeal of a heritage tree removal permit, approval of an economic development strategic plan contract, and appointments to regional boards. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, and approvals.

Consent Calendar

  • The council approved the consent calendar with Councilmember Eklund abstaining on items G2 and G3 and noting questions on G7. The motion passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • During general public comment for non‑agenda items, no speakers came forward.
  • For the heritage tree appeal, after the main hearing, the council reopened public comment on a motion to require a replacement tree. One speaker, Martina, expressed safety concerns about tree roots and urged consideration of fire danger and the tree's value for birds and the community.

Discussion Items

Heritage Tree Removal Appeal (Gelardio Property)

  • Staff presented the appeal of a community development director's decision to allow removal of a coast redwood at 1294 Parkwood Drive, citing nuisance (root damage to patio) and hazard (instability from PG&E pruning). The appellant (a neighbor) argued the tree is healthy, offered to fund root barriers, debris cleanup, and power line relocation, and emphasized the tree's environmental and community value. The property owner's attorney, Paul Cohen, and arborist Robert Rivero testified that the tree is a hazard and cannot be preserved without risk; they noted extensive root damage and unsafe pruning.
  • Council questions focused on arborist independence, replacement tree options, undergrounding feasibility, and root barrier effectiveness. The arborist stated cutting roots for a barrier would destabilize the tree.
  • The council heard public comment (one speaker) on a substitute motion to require a replacement tree. That motion failed 2–3 (Eklund and Farak in favor; Carkle, O'Connor, Jacobs opposed). The original motion to uphold the director's decision and issue the permit passed 4–1 (Eklund opposed).

Economic Development Strategic Plan Contract (J1)

  • Economic Development Manager Katie Skerping presented a resolution to award a $145,050 contract to Good City Company for developing a comprehensive economic development strategic plan. The plan will include economic analysis, community engagement, and an implementation roadmap, with completion by late summer 2026.
  • Councilmember Eklund questioned the interview panel (staff only) and requested more opportunities for council input. Councilmember Carkle asked about the consultant's local experience. Good City Company's Sabina Mora cited relevant work in San Mateo County, Pacifica, and Marin County.
  • Public comment: Stephanie Kohler (DMBA) and Denise Athos (Chamber of Commerce) expressed support.
  • The motion to approve the contract passed unanimously.

Appointments to Boards and Commissions (J2)

  • Council discussed assignments. Councilmember Eklund wanted to remain primary on the North Bay Watershed Association Board; Councilmember Carkle also sought that role. After debate, a motion to make Carkle primary and Eklund alternate passed 4–1 (Eklund opposed). Councilmember Jacobs took the TAM Board. Other assignments remained unchanged.

Key Outcomes

  • Heritage Tree Removal: Approved (4–1) with no requirement for a replacement tree. The council also directed staff to consider a future discussion on hiring independent arborists.
  • Economic Development Strategic Plan: Contract awarded to Good City Company (unanimous). Next steps include stakeholder interviews and public workshops in spring 2026.
  • Board Appointments: Councilmember Carkle appointed as primary representative to the North Bay Watershed Association Board; Councilmember Jacobs appointed to the TAM Board. Other positions unchanged.
  • The meeting adjourned in memory of Michael Mandel, a longtime Novato resident.

Meeting Transcript

All right, we will start the Novato City Council meeting. This is our January 13th, 2026 meeting. Welcome everyone and happy new year. We'll get started with the Pledge of Allegiance. To the flag. United. Which it stands. Under the indivisible. Laura, can you please take roll? Councilmember Eklund present. Councilmember Carkel. Present. Councilmember O'Connor. Present. Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs. Present. And Mayor Farak. And I am present. There were no closed session items, and there are no ceremonial presentations. So we'll move on to approval of the final agenda. I'll move approval. I'll move approval. All right, can you call vote? Councilmember Eklund? Aye. Councilmember Carkle? Aye. Councilmember O'Connor. Aye. Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs. Aye. And Mayor Farak. Aye. All right, that passes. Now we'll go on to reports from the City Council and City Manager. We'll start with our city manager, Amy Cunningham. Good evening, Council. Happy New Year. By now, all Nevada residents should have received a new year brochure in the mail from our Parks Recreation and Community Services Department. The brochure promotes the fantastic programs and membership offerings happening at Margaret Todd Senior Center. The new year's a perfect time to try out a new class or start a new hobby, and Margaret Todd has something for everyone, so please go and check them out. The brochure is available at all of our customer service sites, and class offerings can also be viewed on the city website. Thank you. Thank you very much. So I just want to do a shout out to Marcia Basalia who has been organizing the team up to cleanup one Saturday a month so we can clean up Novato. And so this Saturday we spent um four hours cleaning up Alameda de La Loma. And it's amazing what I picked up. But anyway, it really looks a lot better. And I will be talking with the city manager about opportunities to help do a little bit more publicity so we can get some more volunteers for that. Also, too, I did uh participate in.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com