Novato City Council Meeting - February 24, 2026
Novato City Council Meeting - February 24, 2026
This regularly scheduled city council meeting began with ceremonial presentations, including awarding the 2025 Citizen of the Year and recognizing a long-time volunteer. The council then received an annual police department report, a ten-month progress report on the SAFE mobile crisis response program, and approved a revised budget and agreement amendment for the Downtown Novato Business Association (DNBA).
Consent Calendar
- The consent calendar was approved unanimously, including routine items not discussed individually.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Joe Fairens, Public Affairs for the Small Business Administration (SBA), requested the city's assistance in publicizing disaster loan opportunities following Marin County's inclusion in disaster declaration CA2141. He highlighted loan terms: up to $100,000 for personal property, interest rates as low as 4%, and no payment/interest accrual for 12 months. Physical damage loan deadline is April 6, 2026; economic injury deadline is November 3, 2026.
Discussion Items
- Police Department 2025 Annual Report: Chief Jim Nigel presented the annual report, noting that crime statistics remained remarkably consistent with five-to-six-year averages despite regional increases. Key achievements included reaching full sworn staffing (no vacancies), the launch of the SAFE team, continued drone team expansion (100 deployments in 2025), and 189 DUI arrests (50 above the five-year average) with no increase in DUI collisions. A new canine team had 63 utilizations and 7 suspect surrenders without bites. The department is working toward a second canine and an officer on the auto theft task force. Council members asked about school resource officer funding (limited by school district budget), grants (applied for OTS and cannabis enforcement grants), and benchmarking with neighboring communities.
- SAFE Program 10-Month Progress Report: Lieutenant Alan Bates and SAFE Director Aziz Majid presented data from the program's launch on April 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025. The team responded to 1,340 calls (7% of all dispatch calls), resolving 96% without police or fire assistance. Only 21 police and 11 fire co-responses were requested. 143 clients were successfully connected to services such as housing, counseling, and case management. The team operates five days a week (Tuesday–Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and covers all parts of Novato, with 55% of calls involving housed individuals. Council members expressed support and discussed potential expansion to seven days a week, which could be considered during the budget process. Mayor Farak encouraged sharing SAFE statistics via police social media.
- DNBA Revised 2026 Budget and Agreement Amendment: Economic Development Director Katie Scarping presented the revised budget, which removed responsibility for Grant Avenue planter and tree white light maintenance per council direction from October 2025. The revised budget shows total revenue of approximately $280,000 (city match and assessment each contributing ~$70,000) and expenses of $239,495, resulting in a surplus of $44,587 to be placed in reserves. Expenses include 10% administration, 38% payroll/insurance, 41% events, and 9% marketing. The amendment updates insurance and indemnity requirements to current city standards. Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs asked about postage/printing line items and insurance cost increases. The executive director clarified that printing costs now reflect print advertising, not mailings, and that insurance had already been at the higher limits.
Key Outcomes
- The consent calendar was approved unanimously (5-0).
- The SAFE program 10-month progress report was accepted by a unanimous vote (5-0).
- The resolution authorizing the city manager to execute the first amendment to the DNBA administration agreement was approved unanimously (5-0).
- The city council adjourned in memory of three Marin County avalanche victims: Kate Bitt (43), Kate Morse (45), and Danelle Keatley (44).
Meeting Transcript
Welcome everyone. Sorry for the delay. We had closed session prior to this. I'd like to ask Jack Wien, Logan Reed, Kapper Sharab, Jacob Auckner from members and the members of the Boy Scout Troop 73 to come to the front of the room to present the colors and lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Welcome. We're excited to have you. Audience, please rise. Color guardship. Color guard advanced. Please prepare to post the colors. Please place your right hand over your heart. Please join in the pledge of the leaders. I pleads. For which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Color guard post the colors. Great job, Boy Scouts Troop. 73. Laura, can you please call roll call? Councilmember Eklund. Present. Councilmember Carkle. Present. Councilmember O'Connor. Present. Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs. Present. And Mayor Farak. I'm president. I'm going to go over to the city attorney for closed session. Yes, thank you, Mayor and Council. There's no reportable action. Thank you very much. Alright, moving on to ceremonial matters and presentation. I'd like to invite the city council up to the front of the room. All right. So we have one of the most exciting um awards that we give out during the year, and this is our uh citizen of the year. So I'd like to invite Jennifer Goldfinger up. Jennifer has done so much for this community, and she's involved everywhere. And when I read the proclamation, you all are gonna gas with how many things she does. So I'll start with it. Whereas each year, the city of Novato is proud to recognize one distinguished individual who embodies the spirit of community volunteerism and beyond and is selected by a committee made of former citizens of the year. And whereas this year, the committee has chosen a valuable community leader and a passionate advocate for volunteerism, Jennifer Goldfinger, as the 2025 citizen of the year. And whereas since mid-1970, Jennifer has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the volunteerism, dedicating her time and talents to a wide array of organization and causes throughout Novato. She is an outstanding role model and sets the gold standard for civic engagement. And where Jennifer volunteer efforts span an impressive range of organizations, including the Novato Chamber of Commerce, Novato Fourth of July Parade Committee, Paint the Town Red, the Nevado Historical Guild, the Book Place, Rotary Clubs, and the North Marin Community Services Board of Director, just to name a few. And whereas Jennifer has expressed a deep belief in the power of human services to strengthen the community, her willingness to step up for the benefits of the community is truly inspiring. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the city council of the city of Novato, on behalf of the residents of Novato, does hereby recognize Jennifer Goldfinger as Novato 2025 Citizen of the Year and thanks her for truly making a different in the lives of others. Congratulations. Would you like to say a few words? Thank you.
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