City Council
City Council
Mon, August 5, 2024
Agenda items
Vote records
Discussion summary
Transcript
Meeting summaryAI-generated
City Council & PCDSA Regular Meeting — August 5, 2024
This was a regular meeting of the Petaluma City Council and Petaluma Community Development Successor Agency, notable for a closed session focused on mobile home park litigation and a strong public statement afterward reaffirming the city's commitment to mobile home rent control protections. Councilmember Cader Thompson was absent from the in-person roll call but joined remotely for closed session; all other members were present.
Closed Session — Mobile Home Park Litigation
Before the regular session, the Council met in closed session to discuss three existing lawsuits (two involving Youngstown MHP LLC and one involving Parks, Botta, Parker et al., all against the City of Petaluma) as well as up to three cases of potential anticipated litigation. Fourteen members of the public provided comment during the closed session period — a notably large turnout, suggesting significant community concern, likely connected to mobile home park issues.
City Attorney Eric Danly reported no formal action from closed session but conveyed a pointed statement on behalf of the Council: the Council reaffirmed its firm commitment to upholding and strengthening the city's mobile home rent control and conversion regulations, and directed the City Attorney to continue vigorous enforcement of those protections.
Presentation: Strategic Action Plan to End Homelessness — Year 2 Progress Report
Karen Shimizu, Assistant Director of Community Development, and Management Analyst Carissa Cooper presented the second-year progress report on Petaluma's 2022–2024 Strategic Action Plan to End Homelessness. The minutes do not detail specific findings or data points from the presentation; this was an informational item with no vote required.
Consent Calendar (Items 1–12)
The Council approved all twelve consent calendar items unanimously without discussion. Key items included:
Rejecting all bids for the Ellis Creek Chemical Upgrades Project Phase 1, indicating the project will need to be re-bid.
Awarding a contract to EXARO Technologies Corporation for the Water Transmission Pipeline Impressed Cathodic System Upgrade Project.
Levying the annual special tax for the Riverfront Community Facilities District for FY 2024/25.
Accepting an EPA grant (San Francisco Water Quality Improvement Fund) and authorizing a sub-award agreement with the City of Sonoma.
Accepting a Bureau of Reclamation grant to fund turf removal and high-efficiency clothes washer rebates for Petaluma residents.
Renewing the transit operations and maintenance contract for Petaluma Transit.
Executing cooperative funding agreements with the Sonoma County Transportation Authority for road and transit programs.
Accepting a feasibility study report on establishing a resiliency hub at the Community Center for emergency use.
Reorganizing the Department of Public Works and Utilities by splitting the single Director of Public Works and Utilities position into two separate director roles: Director of Public Works and Director of Water Resources and Utilities.
Second reading adoption of three budget amendment ordinances (Nos. 2893, 2894, 2895 N.C.S.) adjusting FY 2023/24 appropriations.
Vote: Carried 6–0 (Cader Thompson absent)
Public Hearing: Annual Military Equipment Use Report & Renewal of AB 481 Policy (Item 13)
Police Lieutenant Garrett Glaviano presented the department's annual report on military equipment use as required under California Assembly Bill 481. This included a review of the Petaluma Police Department's Military Equipment Funding, Acquisition, and Use Policy 709, and Policy 613 governing Unmanned Aerial Systems (drones) and Unmanned Ground Vehicles. The hearing renews the ordinance for another year. No public comment was received.
Vote: Carried 6–0 (Cader Thompson absent)
Public Hearing: Mobilehome Park Conversion Fee (Item 14)
City Attorney Eric Danly presented a resolution amending the city's Master Fee Schedule to add a new Mobilehome Park Conversion Fee, authorized under Section 8.34.120 of the Petaluma Municipal Code. This fee is tied to the city's mobile home park conversion regulations — consistent with the Council's closed-session statement about strengthening protections for mobile home park residents. No public comment was received.
Vote: Carried 6–0 (Cader Thompson absent)
Public Hearing: Landscape Assessment Districts — FY 2024/25 Annual Assessments (Item 15)
Assistant City Manager Brian Cochran and Management Analyst Delana Bradford presented the annual levying of assessments for the city's Landscape Assessment Districts. Four members of the public — Nickola Frye, Jim Vaughn, Joanne Skraboly, and Wayne Eckstrom — provided comment, though the substance of their remarks is not detailed in the minutes.
The Council adopted four separate resolutions (Nos. 2024-100 through 2024-103), each covering different assessment districts. Two resolutions required recusals due to likely conflicts of interest:
Resolution 2024-101: Councilmember Barnacle recused. Vote: Carried 5–0
Resolution 2024-102: Mayor McDonnell recused. Vote: Carried 5–0
Resolution 2024-103: Vice Mayor Shribbs recused. Vote: Carried 5–0
Resolution 2024-100: No recusals. Vote: Carried 6–0
Key Takeaways
Mobile home park protections front and center: The Council emerged from closed session with an unusually direct public statement reaffirming its commitment to enforcing and strengthening mobile home rent control and conversion regulations, in the context of active litigation involving at least two mobile home park cases.
New mobilehome park conversion fee adopted: A new fee tied to mobile home park conversion regulations was added to the city's fee schedule, adding a financial tool to its tenant protection framework.
Public Works reorganized: The city is splitting its Public Works and Utilities department leadership into two separate director positions, signaling a structural change in how infrastructure and utilities are managed.
Bureau of Reclamation grant accepted: Residents can expect continued access to rebates for turf removal and water-efficient appliances as the city secured federal funding for those programs.
Ellis Creek project re-bid needed: All bids for the Ellis Creek Chemical Upgrades Phase 1 were rejected, meaning this water treatment project will be delayed while the city seeks new bids.
AI-generated summary from voice-to-text transcript. Not the official record. Verify important details with the source documents linked above.
Agenda items (15)
Consent Calendar
1Consent CalendarMinutes of the City Council/PCDSA Regular Meeting of July 15, 2024
The council will approve the official minutes from its July 15, 2024 meeting.
Adopted unanimously · 4-0
2Consent CalendarTentative Agenda for City Council/PCDSA Regular Meeting of September 9, 2024 and Significant Agenda Items for AugOct 2024
The council will confirm the agenda for its September 9, 2024 meeting and review what major topics are planned for the rest of the year.
Adopted unanimously · 4-0
3Consent CalendarResolution Rejecting All Bids for the Ellis Creek Chemical Upgrades Project Phase 1 (C66501840)
The council is rejecting all bids received for upgrades to Ellis Creek's chemical treatment systems, likely because bids exceeded budget or did not meet requirements.
Adopted unanimously · 4-0
4Consent CalendarResolution Authorizing Award of Contract for the Water Transmission Pipeline Impressed Cathodic System Upgrade Project (C67502435) to EXARO Technologies Corporation
The city will hire EXARO Technologies Corporation to upgrade the water transmission pipeline's cathodic protection system, which prevents corrosion.
Adopted unanimously · 4-0
5Consent CalendarResolution Adopting the Levying of the Annual Special Tax for The Riverfront Community Facilities District, Fiscal Year 2024/25
The council will approve the annual special tax bill for the Riverfront Community Facilities District for fiscal year 2024–25, which funds community amenities.
Adopted unanimously · 4-0
6Consent CalendarResolution Accepting the Award of the US EPA San Francisco Water Quality Improvement Fund Grant and Authorizing the City to Enter into the Subaward Agreement with the City of Sonoma
Petaluma will accept a federal EPA water quality grant and partner with the City of Sonoma to implement the funded improvements.
Adopted unanimously · 4-0
7Consent CalendarResolution Authorizing the City of Petaluma to Accept a Grant Award from the US Bureau of Reclamation to Support Turf Removal Rebates and HighEfficiency Clothes Washer Rebates
The city will accept federal funding from the Bureau of Reclamation to provide rebates to residents who remove decorative grass or replace old washing machines with efficient models.
Adopted unanimously · 4-0
8Consent CalendarResolution Authorizing the Renewal and Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement for Petaluma Transit Operations & Maintenance
The council will renew and update the contract with the company that operates and maintains Petaluma Transit bus service.
Adopted unanimously · 4-0
9Consent CalendarResolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute Cooperative Funding Agreements No. G20400E1 (Go Sonoma Roads) and G41300E1 (Go Sonoma Transit) Between the Sonoma County Transportation Authority (SCTA) and the City of Petaluma
The city manager will sign funding agreements with the Sonoma County Transportation Authority for regional roads and transit programs.
Adopted unanimously · 4-0
10Consent CalendarResolution Accepting Project Needs and Information Inputs Report for the Feasibility Study to Establish a Resiliency Hub at the Community Center for Emergency Use
The council will accept a report outlining community needs for a proposed resilience hub at the Community Center to serve as an emergency shelter and resource center.
Adopted unanimously · 4-0
11Consent CalendarResolution Amending the Classification and Compensation Plan and Authorizing and Eliminating Position Allocations Associated with the Reorganization of the Department of Public Works and Utilities by 1) Establishing the Classifications and Pay Ranges of Director of Public Works and Director of Water Resources and Utilities; 2) Authorizing the Position Allocations of One Director of Public Works and One Director of Water Resources and Utilities; and 3) Eliminating the Classification and Position Allocation of Director of Public Works and Utilities
The city is splitting the top Public Works job into two separate director positions—one for Public Works and one for Water Resources and Utilities—and updating pay ranges accordingly.
Adopted unanimously · 4-0
12Consent CalendarAdoption (Second Reading) of Ordinances Amending Ordinances 2881, 2885, 2886 N.C.S. to Change Certain Appropriations for the Operations of the City of Petaluma from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024 and Finding that this Action is Not a Project Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(B)(5).
The council will finalize budget adjustments for fiscal year 2023–24 operations that were previously introduced.
Adopted unanimously · 4-0
Public Hearing
13Public HearingReceive, Review, Approve and Adopt FY24 Annual Military Equipment Use Report and Renew Ordinance No. 2859 N.C.S., which Approved Petaluma Police Department’s Military Equipment Funding, Acquisition, and Use Policy 709, (Use Policy) and Policy 613 Pertaining to Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) and Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV) in Compliance with California Assembly Bill 481 (AB 481)
The public will have a chance to comment on the police department's military equipment use and unmanned vehicle policies, and the council will renew approval for these practices as required by state law.
14Public HearingResolution of the City Council of the City Of Petaluma Amending the Previously Adopted Master Fee Schedule to Add a Mobilehome Park Conversion Fee Pursuant to Section 8.34.120 of the Petaluma Municipal Code
The public will have a chance to comment on a new fee the city proposes to charge when a mobile home park is converted to a different use.
15Public HearingPublic Hearing to Receive Public Comment, Amend the Engineer’s Report as Appropriate and Adopt a Resolution Ordering the Improvements, Confirming the Engineer’s Report, and Levying Annual Assessments for Landscape Assessment Districts for Fiscal Year 24/25 – REVISED 080124
The public will comment on the annual assessment fees for landscape maintenance in city assessment districts for fiscal year 2024–25, and the council will vote to approve the assessments.
Additional votes recorded in minutes
Unknown Item
Aye 4
Brian BarnacleAye
John ShribbsAye
Karen NauAye
Kevin McDonnellAye
Motion 1
Aye 4
Brian BarnacleAye
John ShribbsAye
Karen NauAye
Kevin McDonnellAye
Attachment Two - Resolution
Aye 3
John ShribbsAye
Karen NauAye
Kevin McDonnellAye
Attachment Three - Resolution
Aye 3
Brian BarnacleAye
John ShribbsAye
Karen NauAye
Attachment Four - Resolution
Aye 3
Brian BarnacleAye
Karen NauAye
Kevin McDonnellAye
Verbatim transcript available
6 transcript segments indexed
CITY OF PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL & PETALUMA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SUCCESSOR AGENCY (PCDSA) City Hall Council Chamber 11 English Street Petaluma, CA 94952 MINUTES Monday, August 5, 2024 CLOSED SESSION 5:30 P.M. REGULAR SESSION 6:30 P.M. CALL TO ORDER – CLOSED SESSION – 5:30 P.M. Mayor McDonnell called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. • ROLL CALL PRESENT: Mayor McDonnell, Councilmember Barnacle, Councilmember Healy, Councilmember Nau, Councilmember Pocekay, Vice Mayor Shribbs ABSENT: Councilmember Cader Thompson CLOSED SESSION • CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION (3 Cases) Paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9 Youngstown MHP LLC v. City of Petaluma; 24CV0025 Parks, Botta, Parker et. All v. City of Petaluma; 24CV04188 Youngstown MHP LLC v. City of Petaluma; 24CV04158 • CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Initiation of litigation pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9 Based on existing facts and circumstances, the legislative body of the local agency has decided to initiate or is deciding whether to initiate litigation. Number of Potential Cases: 3 PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION ITEMS Mayor McDonnell opened the public comment. Jane Gershan Rod Delatorre Sue Sullivan Kathryn Bobrowski John Robbing Martin Hymowitz David Jones Aileen Cancino
Jodi Johnson Marie Cuneo Tim Porteous Brenda Seminoff Chris Parker Ann Colichitas Mayor McDonnell closed the public comment. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION Council adjourned to closed session at 5:55 p.m. CALL TO ORDER - REGULAR SESSION - 6:30 P.M. Mayor McDonnell called the meeting to order at 6:51 p.m. • ROLL CALL PRESENT: Mayor McDonnell, Councilmember Barnacle, Councilmember Healy, Councilmember Nau, Councilmember Pocekay, Vice Mayor Shribbs ABSENT: Councilmember Cader Thompson • PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE • MOMENT OF SILENCE AGENDA CHANGES AND DELETIONS (TO CURRENT AGENDA ONLY) None. REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION City Attorney Eric Danly noted that Councilmember Cader Thompson joined remotely Council during the closed session. He also stated that there had been no reportable action, however he stated that the Council asked him to provide the following information: the Council made it clear tonight in closed session that they continue to remain firmly committed to ensuring the effectiveness of our city’s mobile home rent control and closure and conversion regulations, and that we should continue to vigorously uphold, enforce and strengthen those regulations. PROCLAMATION • Women’s Equality Day Rebecca Kaykas-Wolff, Commissioner on the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women accepted the proclamation and made comment. PRESENTATION • Petaluma’s 2022-2024 Strategic Action Plan to End Homelessness – Year 2 Progress Report and Presentation Karen Shimizu, Assistant Director of Community Development and Carissa Cooper, Management Analyst presented. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
During General Public Comment, the public is invited to make comments on items of public interest that are within the City Council’s subject matter jurisdiction and that are not listed on the current agenda. Public comments are limited, up to three minutes per person. Depending on the number of persons wishing to address the Council, time will be allocated in equal shares totaling no more than twenty minutes, subject to the Council’s discretion (Cal. Gov’t. Code §54954.3(a), Petaluma City Council Rules, Policies and Procedures, III). Mayor McDonnell opened the general public comment. Karyn Sanchez Nickola Frye Jodi Johnson Kathryn Bobrowski Michael Shapiro Tim Porteous Sandra Shand Aileen Cancino John Hanania Juan Bernardo Angeles Cruz Mayor McDonnell closed the general public comment. COUNCIL COMMENT Vice Mayor Shribbs Councilmember Barnacle Councilmember Pocekay Councilmember Nau Councilmember Healy Mayor McDonnell CITY MANAGER COMMENT City Manager Peggy Flynn CONSENT CALENDAR 1. Approved Minutes of the City Council/PCDSA Regular Meeting of July 15, 2024 2. Approved Tentative Agenda for City Council/PCDSA Regular Meeting of September 9, 2024 and Significant Agenda Items for Aug-Oct 2024 3. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-089 N.C.S. Rejecting All Bids for the Ellis Creek Chemical Upgrades Project - Phase 1 (C66501840) 4. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-090 N.C.S. Authorizing Award of Contract for the Water Transmission Pipeline Impressed Cathodic System Upgrade Project (C67502435) to EXARO Technologies Corporation 5. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-091 N.C.S. Adopting the Levying of the Annual Special Tax for The Riverfront Community Facilities District, Fiscal Year 2024/25 6. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-092 N.C.S. Accepting the Award of the US EPA San Francisco Water Quality Improvement Fund Grant and Authorizing the City to Enter into the Sub-award Agreement with the City of Sonoma 7. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-093 N.C.S. Authorizing the City of Petaluma to Accept a Grant Award from the US Bureau of Reclamation to Support Turf Removal Rebates and High- Efficiency Clothes Washer Rebates
8. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-094 N.C.S. Authorizing the Renewal and Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement for Petaluma Transit Operations & Maintenance 9. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-095 N.C.S. Authorizing the City Manager to Execute Cooperative Funding Agreements No. G20400E1 (Go Sonoma Roads) and G41300E1 (Go Sonoma Transit) Between the Sonoma County Transportation Authority (SCTA) and the City of Petaluma 10. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-096 N.C.S. Accepting Project Needs and Information Inputs Report for the Feasibility Study to Establish a Resiliency Hub at the Community Center for Emergency Use 11. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-097 N.C.S. Amending the Classification and Compensation Plan and Authorizing and Eliminating Position Allocations Associated with the Reorganization of the Department of Public Works and Utilities by 1) Establishing the Classifications and Pay Ranges of Director of Public Works and Director of Water Resources and Utilities; 2) Authorizing the Position Allocations of One Director of Public Works and One Director of Water Resources and Utilities; and 3) Eliminating the Classification and Position Allocation of Director of Public Works and Utilities 12. Adoption (Second Reading) of Ordinance No. 2893 N.C.S., Ordinance No. 2894 N.C.S., and Ordinance No. 2895 N.C.S. Amending Ordinances 2881, 2885, 2886 N.C.S. to Change Certain Appropriations for the Operations of the City of Petaluma from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024 and Finding that this Action is Not a Project Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(B)(5). Mayor McDonnell opened the public comment; receiving none, he closed the public comment. Motion to adopt Consent Calendar items 1 through 12, made by Councilmember Healy, seconded by Councilmember Nau. Vote: Carried 6-0 Yes: Councilmember Barnacle, Councilmember Healy, Councilmember Nau, Councilmember Pocekay, Vice Mayor Shribbs, Mayor McDonnell No: None Absent: Councilmember Cader Thompson Abstain: None Recused: None PUBLIC HEARINGS AND MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION 13. Receive, Review, Approve and Adopt FY24 Annual Military Equipment Use Report and Renew Ordinance No. 2859 N.C.S., which Approved Petaluma Police Department’s Military Equipment Funding, Acquisition, and Use Policy 709, (Use Policy) and Policy 613 Pertaining to Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) and Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV) in Compliance with California Assembly Bill 481 (AB 481) Police Lieutenant Garrett Glaviano presented the staff report. Mayor McDonnell opened the public comment; receiving none, he closed the public comment. Motion to adopted Resolution No. 2024-098 N.C.S. made by Councilmember Healy, seconded by Councilmember Barnacle. Vote: Carried 6-0 Yes: Councilmember Barnacle, Councilmember Healy, Councilmember Nau, Councilmember Pocekay, Vice Mayor Shribbs, Mayor McDonnell No: None Absent: Councilmember Cader Thompson Abstain: None
Recused: None 14. Resolution of the City Council of the City Of Petaluma Amending the Previously Adopted Master Fee Schedule to Add a Mobilehome Park Conversion Fee Pursuant to Section 8.34.120 of the Petaluma Municipal Code City Attorney Eric Danly presented the staff report. Mayor McDonnell opened the public comment; receiving none, he closed the public comment. Motion to Adopt Resolution No. 2024-099 N.C.S. made by Councilmember Healy, seconded by Councilmember Nau. Vote: Carried 6-0 Yes: Councilmember Barnacle, Councilmember Healy, Councilmember Nau, Councilmember Pocekay, Vice Mayor Shribbs, Mayor McDonnell No: None Absent: Councilmember Cader Thompson Abstain: None Recused: None 15. Public Hearing to Receive Public Comment, Amend the Engineer’s Report as Appropriate and Adopt a Resolution Ordering the Improvements, Confirming the Engineer’s Report, and Levying Annual Assessments for Landscape Assessment Districts for Fiscal Year 24/25 Assistant City Manager Brian Cochran and Management Analyst Delana Bradford presented the staff report. Mayor McDonnell opened the public comment. Nickola Frye Jim Vaughn Joanne Skraboly Wayne Eckstrom Mayor McDonnell closed the public comment. Motion to adopt Resolution No. 2024-100 N.C.S. made by Councilmember Healy, seconded by Councilmember Nau. Vote: Carried 6-0 Yes: Councilmember Barnacle, Councilmember Healy, Councilmember Nau, Councilmember Pocekay, Vice Mayor Shribbs, Mayor McDonnell No: None Absent: Councilmember Cader Thompson Abstain: None Recused: None Motion to adopt Resolution No. 2024-101 N.C.S. made by Councilmember Healy, seconded by Councilmember Nau. Vote: Carried 5-0 Yes: Councilmember Healy, Councilmember Nau, Councilmember Pocekay, Vice Mayor Shribbs, Mayor McDonnell No: None Absent: Councilmember Cader Thompson Abstain: None Recused: Councilmember Barnacle
Motion to adopt Resolution No. 2024-102 N.C.S. made by Councilmember Healy, seconded by Councilmember Nau. Vote: Carried 5-0 Yes: Councilmember Barnacle, Councilmember Healy, Councilmember Nau, Councilmember Pocekay, Vice Mayor Shribbs No: None Absent: Councilmember Cader Thompson Abstain: None Recused: Mayor McDonnell Motion to adopt Resolution No. 2024-103 N.C.S. made by Councilmember Healy, seconded by Councilmember Nau. Vote: Carried 5-0 Yes: Councilmember Barnacle, Councilmember Healy, Councilmember Nau, Councilmember Pocekay, Mayor McDonnell No: None Absent: Councilmember Cader Thompson Abstain: None Recused: Vice Mayor Shribbs ADJOURNMENT Mayor McDonnell adjourned the meeting at 10:34 p.m.