Novato City Council Meeting: March 24, 2026 – Tenant Protections, Cannabis, Compensation
Novato City Council Meeting: March 24, 2026 – Tenant Protections, Cannabis, Compensation
The Novato City Council met on March 24, 2026, for a regular meeting that began at 2:00 PM and extended into the evening. The agenda included a public hearing on a proposed just cause tenant protections ordinance, public comments on a potential cannabis retail dispensary, approval of a master plan amendment, and a council compensation increase. The meeting also featured ceremonial proclamations and a closed session report.
Consent Calendar
- The consent calendar was approved with a motion and second, with item G8 (Hamilton Museum walkway repair) pulled for separate discussion.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Cannabis Retail Dispensary (Non-Agenda Public Comment): Multiple residents spoke in strong opposition to establishing a cannabis retail storefront in Novato. Brett Goldman cited concerns about youth access, illegal dispensaries, and increased crime. Michelle Leopold shared a personal story of losing her 18-year-old son to cannabis use disorder and high-potency THC. Bridget Clark questioned the survey methodology and highlighted health risks, including psychosis and DUIs. Don Carney, director of Marin County Youth Court, noted 70% of youth court referrals involve substances and argued that storefronts contradict public health. Elizabeth O'Donnell urged treating flavored cannabis vapes like flavored nicotine vapes, citing high youth use in Marin. Kate Roll displayed cannabis products marketed to youth and referenced a suicide linked to cannabis candy. Allie Baer cited a Kaiser Permanente study linking youth cannabis use to severe mental health disorders, emphasizing societal costs of $350 billion annually for schizophrenia.
- Tenant Protection Ordinance (Public Hearing): Dozens of residents and stakeholders testified. Tenants displaced from Romar Court (e.g., Jesus Portillo, Veronica Hernandez, Roselia Gramajo, Vilma Monzon) shared stories of sudden eviction, emotional and financial hardship. Advocacy groups (Charlotte Gunnells of North Marin Community Services, Jason Saras, Susie Dershowitz of Public Advocates, Lucy Hollingsworth of Legal Aid of Marin) urged passage with strong protections, including relocation assistance, right to return, and coverage of all unit types. Landlords and property owners (Katie Wington, Karen Camber, Dina Stathis, Chuck Hildebrand, Manny Locaruba, Linda Lipsstrove, Michael Sexton) opposed the ordinance, arguing it would burden small mom-and-pop landlords, reduce rental supply, and that state law is sufficient. Some called for a delay or voter referendum.
Discussion Items
- Tenant Protection Ordinance (Item I1): Senior Planner Claire Hartman presented a detailed overview of the proposed just cause ordinance, which expands state law to provide stronger tenant protections, particularly for no-fault evictions (red tag, substantial renovation, owner move-in, withdrawal from market). Key features include relocation assistance (per diem of $250/day for first 30 days, HUD fair market rent for months 2-6, and two times fair market rent for permanent relocation), right to return, and an alternative agreement option. Staff recommended aligning exemptions with state law (e.g., single-family homes/condos owned by individuals) and removing a clause that prohibited owner move-in for seniors/disabled. Councilmembers O'Connor and Carkle raised questions about applicability, small operator exemptions, and per diem amounts. Council consensus emerged to adopt the small operator exemption matching state law and to simplify per diem to $250/day without additional meal/pet costs. The council voted 4-0 (Councilmembers Eklund and Farak recused due to rental property ownership) to introduce the ordinance.
- McPhail's Commercial Office Development Master Plan Amendment (Item I2): Applicant Casey Baxter requested an amendment to allow all light industrial/office (LIO) uses at the site (5400 Hannah Ranch Road), addressing low vacancy rates (3.6% for LIO space) and accommodating tenants like Snakecraft, a cabinet maker, and Marin County Fire Department. The public (Derek Nell, Chamber representative) spoke in favor. The council voted 5-0 to approve the resolution and introduce the ordinance.
- Council Compensation (Item J1): Chief People Officer Eva Hilliard presented staff's recommendation to increase monthly council stipends from $400 to $1,552 (97% of the state maximum of $1,600), reflecting no increase since 1988 and aligning with city compensation philosophy. Options included no change, $1,600, or an intermediate amount. After debate, Councilmember Farak proposed an $800 increase with future review, but lacked a second. Councilmember O'Connor moved the $1,552 increase, citing low effective hourly rate ($6) and barriers to service, especially for working parents. The motion passed 4-1 (Councilmember Eklund dissenting), effective after the November 2026 election.
- Hamilton Museum Walkway Repair (Item G8 – Pulled): Councilmember Eklund requested tabling the item to allow further discussion with museum manager Ray Dwelly, who had reported the sinking walkway. She noted that options 1 and 2 (grinding or resetting bricks) were unworkable and called for a comprehensive capital improvement plan for city facilities. The council voted 5-0 to postpone the item.
Key Outcomes
- Tenant Protection Ordinance: Introduced 4-0 (Eklund and Farak recused). A second reading and adoption will follow.
- Master Plan Amendment: Approved 5-0; ordinance introduced.
- Council Compensation: Increased to $1,552 per month, effective November 2026 (vote 4-1).
- Hamilton Museum Walkway: Postponed for further stakeholder input (5-0).
- Ceremonial Matters: Proclamation for Government Finance Professionals Week; recognition of George Brenton Estes for 45 years at Valley Memorial Park and community service.
- Closed Session: Council voted 5-0 to initiate litigation (details available upon request).
- Next Meeting: Scheduled for April 14, 2027 (note: likely a typo in transcript; regularly scheduled meetings are typically bi-weekly).
Meeting Transcript
Welcome everyone to the City of Novato City Council meeting for March 24th. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. Laura, can you please take roll call? Councilmember Eklunds. Present. Councilmember Carkle? Here. Councilmember O'Connor. Here. Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs. Here. And Mayor Frack. Present. We did have a closed session. Gary, our city attorney, do we have anything to report? Yes, thank you, Mayor and Council members. The council voted 5-0 to initiate litigation. The action defendants and other particulars will be available upon request once the action is commenced. Thank you very much. Moving on to item C, ceremonial matters, I'd like to ask the council to uh meet me up front at the podium, and then also want to invite Carla Calva de Graaff, our finance director and members of the finance team to accept the proclamation. All right, well, this one I'm really, really excited to give out. And as some of you are aware, we were behind on our audits, and um our council has made it a priority, and staff has delivered to catch up on our audits and really become fiscally sustainable. So their hard work, we're now in a great position. So with this, I'd like to recognize government finance professionals week. Whereas the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers is the state's leading professional organization dedicated to promoting excellence in financial management for California's local governments. And whereas these professionals play a critical role in managing complex budgets, compliing with state and federal laws, maintaining accurate financial reporting in compliance with government accounting standard, administrating great processes, and a verity of funding with different requirements and supporting long-term fiscal sustainability. And whereas Finance Professionals Week diligently, often behind the scenes, to provide critical information that enables informed policy decision and ensures the delivery of essential public services. And now, therefore, be it resolved that the City of Nov City Council of the City of Novato on behalf of the residents of Novato does hereby proclaim the last week of March as government finance professionals week and encourages all residents to recognize and appreciate the hard work and contribution of the finance professionals who serve our community. Would you like to say a few words? Um I just like to thank uh city council for all the support you've given us over the last few years in um catching up, and I would just say that I am um lucky to be a member of such an amazing finance team that is truly dedicated to working really hard to ensure that the finances are done, but not only done, but done well, and um they are super dedicated and a really amazing group. You want to go over there and take take a photo? Now I'm gonna hand this over to Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs. Thank you. Uh this next one is for George Brenton Estes. George, you want to step up? Whereas the City of Novato proudly recognizes individuals who demonstrate commitment to and support for the community values and principles, and whereas George Estes has been a proud resident of Novato since 1965, where he attended all of school Hill Junior High and Novato High, and whereas in 1975 he left to serve a two-year full-time mission for the Church of Latter-day Saints. And in 1982, George and his wife, Rayleigh Davis, returned to Novato to raise their two children, whereas George started working at Valley Memorial Park on January 26, 1981, where he started a tradition of scouts from local Boy Scouts of America units placing flags on the graves of veterans at VMP, followed by a flag ceremony and a short memorial service. And whereas in 1984, George became involved in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 79, and is now the present member of the Executive Board of Marin Council Scouts of America, formerly Boy Scouts of America. And whereas in 1997, George received the Silver Beaver Award from Marin Council Boy Scouts of America, the highest award that can be bestowed on an adult leader for noteworthy exceptional service and youth to youth. And whereas George is also a devoted Rotarian, he was inducted into Rotary Club of Novato in 1983 and served as president of the Rotary Club of Novado for 1996, 97 term. And whereas, after a long 45-year career at Valley Memorial Park, George retired January 27, 2026. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the City Council of the City of Novato, on behalf of the citizens of Novato, does hereby express its sincere appreciation and gratitude to George Brenton SDs for his unwavering dedication and meaningful contributions to the community and wish him all the best in his retirement. Good heavens. Well, thank you. Thank you very much. This is indeed an honor. I'm just gonna make this real quick. I'd like to thank my family, my wife, my two kids are here. Um got some grandsons over in Fairfield that couldn't make it, but uh, and a granddaughter there as well.
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