Name: Petaluma City Council meeting, Apr 7, 2025
Start: 2025-04-07
Location: City of Petaluma

City Council

Mon, April 7, 2025

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Meeting summaryAI-generated

City Council — April 7, 2025

This was a regular meeting of the Petaluma City Council and Petaluma Community Development Successor Agency (PCDSA). All seven councilmembers were present. The meeting opened with proclamations recognizing Sexual Assault Awareness Month, National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week, and Fair Housing Month, and included an annual update from Sonoma County Supervisor David Rabbitt. The meeting was adjourned in memory of Gloria Robinson, longtime community leader and co-founder of Petaluma Blacks for Community Development.

Consent Calendar (Items 1–5)

The Council approved five routine items without significant discussion: minutes from the March 17 meeting; upcoming tentative agendas; acceptance of claims and bills for October through December 2024; the City Treasurer's Quarterly Report dated December 31, 2024; and a restructuring of staff classifications in the environmental services and project management areas. The classification changes establish new Project Manager I/II and Senior Project Manager titles, add a Senior Environmental Services Analyst position, and eliminate the standalone Project Manager and one Environmental Services Analyst position. One member of the public, Adina Flores, commented before the vote.

Vote: Carried 7–0. Moved by Councilmember Cader Thompson, seconded by Vice Mayor Nau.

Regional Body Appointments (Item 6)

City Clerk Caitlin Corley presented a slate of appointments recommended through the Mayors' and Councilmembers' Association to fill vacancies on several regional bodies. The Council approved the following appointments: Sandra Lowe as the regular seat on the Board of Directors; Neysa Hinton and Councilmember Janice Cader Thompson to the Measure H Oversight Committee; Susan Harvey as alternate to the North Bay Division LOCC Executive Board; and Councilmembers John Shribbs and Karen Nau to the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District Citizens Advisory Committee. No public comment was received.

Vote: Carried 7–0. Moved by Councilmember Barnacle, seconded by Councilmember Cader Thompson.

Hazardous Vegetation and Rubbish Abatement (Item 7)

Fire Marshal Jessica Power presented the annual abatement program, which authorizes the Fire Department to clear hazardous vegetation and rubbish from public and private properties across Petaluma if property owners fail to do so themselves. This is a routine fire prevention measure conducted each year ahead of fire season. The Council adopted five separate resolutions (Nos. 2025-034 through 2025-038), each covering different sets of properties. No public comment was received. Several individual recusals were noted — Mayor McDonnell recused from one resolution, Councilmember Barnacle from another, Councilmember DeCarli from a third, and Councilmember Shribbs from a fourth, presumably due to proximity or ownership interests in affected parcels.

Votes: Resolution 2025-034 carried 7–0; Resolutions 2025-035, 2025-036, 2025-037, and 2025-038 each carried 6–0 with one recusal each as noted above.

Affordable Housing Bond — Meridian at Petaluma North Station, 890 N. McDowell Blvd. (Item 8)

Assistant Director of Community Development Karen Shimizu and Housing Specialist Sarah Wolf presented this item. The Council approved the California Municipal Finance Authority (CMFA) issuing up to $65 million in revenue bonds to finance the Meridian at Petaluma North Station, an affordable rental housing development by Danco Communities at 890 North McDowell Boulevard. The City's approval is required under federal tax law for the bond issuance to proceed, but the City bears no financial liability — the bonds are repaid by the project's revenues, not city funds. No public comment was received.

Vote: Carried 7–0. Moved by Councilmember Barnacle, seconded by Councilmember Cader Thompson.

Affordable Housing Bond — Rovina Lane Project, 2 Rovina Lane (Item 9)

The same staff team presented a similar item for the Rovina Lane Project at 2 Rovina Lane, a proposed affordable multifamily rental development by Petaluma Pacific Associates, LP (a partnership with Pacific West Communities, Inc.). The Council approved CMFA issuing up to $25 million in revenue bonds for this project. As with the previous item, the City assumes no financial risk. No public comment was received. Councilmember DeCarli cast the lone dissenting vote; the minutes do not record a stated reason.

Vote: Carried 6–1. Moved by Councilmember Barnacle, seconded by Councilmember Cader Thompson. No: Councilmember DeCarli.

2024 Independent Police Auditor Annual Report (Item 10)

Police Chief Brian Miller and Jeff Schlanger, CEO of IntegrAssure LLC (the city's independent police auditor), presented the 2024 IPA Annual Report and 2025 Work Plan. The report covers police oversight activity from January 1 through December 31, 2024. One member of the public, John Hanania, commented during the hearing. Council discussion followed the presentation. This was a receive-and-review item; no binding vote was taken.

Key Takeaways

Two major affordable housing projects advanced: The Council cleared the way for up to $65 million in bonds for the Meridian at Petaluma North Station (890 N. McDowell Blvd.) and up to $25 million for the Rovina Lane Project — both funded through CMFA revenue bonds at no financial risk to the City.

Annual fire abatement program authorized: The Fire Department is empowered to clear hazardous vegetation and rubbish from properties citywide this fire season if owners don't act first.

Regional seats filled: Councilmembers Shribbs, Nau, and Cader Thompson, along with other appointees, will represent Petaluma on several regional bodies including the Measure H Oversight Committee and the Sonoma County Ag Preservation Citizens Advisory Committee.

Staff reorganization approved: Environmental services and project management classifications were restructured, adding senior-level roles and streamlining job titles in the FY 24/25 budget.

Independent Police Auditor report reviewed: The 2024 annual report and 2025 work plan were presented to the Council, continuing the City's ongoing police oversight framework.

AI-generated summary from voice-to-text transcript. Not the official record. Verify important details with the source documents linked above.

Agenda items (10)

Consent Calendar

1Consent CalendarMinutes of the City Council/PCDSA Regular Meeting of March 17, 2025

The council will approve the official meeting minutes from the March 17, 2025 City Council meeting.

Adopted unanimously · 6-0

2Consent CalendarTentative Agendas for City Council/PCDSA Special Meeting of April 14, 2025, Regular Meeting of April 21, 2025 and Significant Agenda Items for April June 2025

The council will set the preliminary agendas for upcoming meetings in April and preview major topics expected to be discussed through June 2025.

Adopted unanimously · 6-0

3Consent CalendarResolution Accepting Claims and Bills for October, November and December 2024

The council will formally accept and approve bills and claims that the city received during October, November, and December 2024.

Adopted unanimously · 6-0

4Consent CalendarResolution to Receive and File the City Treasurer’s Quarterly Report Dated December 31, 2024

The council will receive the City Treasurer's financial report covering the quarter ending December 31, 2024.

Adopted unanimously · 6-0

5Consent CalendarResolution Amending the Classification and Compensation Plan and Authorizing and Eliminating Position or Funding Allocations Associated with the Adopted Fiscal Year 24/25 Budget by 1) Establishing the Classifications and Pay Ranges of Project Manager I/II, Senior Project Manager, and Senior Environmental Services Analyst; 2) Revising the Classification Specifications of Environmental Services Technician and Environmental Services Analyst; 3) Eliminating the Classification of Project Manager; 4) Authorizing the Position Allocation of One (1) Senior Environmental Services Analyst; and 5) Eliminating the Position or Funding Allocation of One (1) Environmental Services Analyst

The city is reorganizing environmental and project management positions by creating new job classifications, adjusting pay ranges, eliminating outdated positions, and shifting staffing allocations within the current budget.

Public Hearing

6Public HearingResolution Recommending Appointments to the Mayors' and Councilmembers' Association to Fill Vacancies on Regional Bodies

The council will hold a public hearing and vote on appointing Petaluma representatives to regional organizations and boards that currently have open seats.

7Public HearingResolutions Ordering Abatement of Nuisances Consisting of Hazardous Vegetation and Rubbish Growing Upon Public and Private Property in the City of Petaluma and Ordering the Fire Department to Abate Said Hazardous Vegetation and Rubbish by Contract if Property Owners Fail to Do So Pursuant to Chapter 10.70 of the Petaluma Municipal Code

Property owners will be ordered to remove overgrown vegetation and trash from their properties within Petaluma, and the city will hire contractors to complete the cleanup at the owner's expense if they don't comply.

8Public HearingConduct a Public Hearing and Approve a Resolution Approving the Issuance of Revenue Bonds by the California Municipal Finance Authority (CMFA) in an Aggregate Principal Amount Not to Exceed $65,000,000 to Finance an Affordable Rental Housing Facility for the Benefit of Danco Communities for the Meridian at Petaluma North Station Project, located and 890 North McDowell Blvd., and Certain Other Matters Relating Thereto and Finding that this Item is not a ”Project” Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines.

The council will hold a public hearing and approve up to $65 million in financing through state bonds to support construction of an affordable rental housing complex called Meridian at Petaluma North Station on North McDowell Boulevard.

9Public HearingPublic Hearing and Resolution Approving the Issuance of Revenue Bonds by the California Municipal Finance Authority (CMFA) in an Aggregate Principal Amount Not to Exceed $25,000,000 to Finance an Affordable Multifamily Rental Housing Project for the Benefit of Petaluma Pacific Associates, LP a partnership with Pacific West Communities, Inc for the Rovina Lane Project, located at 2 Rovina Lane, Petaluma, California and Certain Other Matters Relating Thereto, and Finding that this Item is not a ”Project” Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines.

The council will hold a public hearing and approve up to $25 million in financing through state bonds to support construction of an affordable rental housing project called Rovina Lane at 2 Rovina Lane.

10Public HearingReceive and review the 2024 Independent Police Auditor’s (IPA) Annual Report, covering the period from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024, and the 2025 Independent Police Auditor’s Work Plan

The council will review the annual report from Petaluma's Independent Police Auditor summarizing police oversight activities from 2024 and the auditor's plan for 2025.

Additional votes recorded in minutes

Consent Calendar

Aye 7

Alex DecarliAye

Brian BarnacleAye

Frank QuintAye

Janice Cader ThompsonAye

John ShribbsAye

Karen NauAye

Kevin McDonnellAye

Resolution - Board Vacancies

Aye 7

Alex DecarliAye

Brian BarnacleAye

Frank QuintAye

Janice Cader ThompsonAye

John ShribbsAye

Karen NauAye

Kevin McDonnellAye

Resolution - No Recusals

Aye 7

Alex DecarliAye

Brian BarnacleAye

Frank QuintAye

Janice Cader ThompsonAye

John ShribbsAye

Karen NauAye

Kevin McDonnellAye

Tax Exempt Bond Issuance - Danko Housing Project

Aye 6

Brian BarnacleAye

Frank QuintAye

Janice Cader ThompsonAye

John ShribbsAye

Karen NauAye

Kevin McDonnellAye

Unknown Item

Noe 1 · Aye 5

Alex DecarliNoe

Brian BarnacleAye

Frank QuintAye

Janice Cader ThompsonAye

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, April 7, 2025 REGULAR SESSION 6:30 P.M. CALL TO ORDER - REGULAR SESSION - 6:30 P.M. Mayor McDonnell called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. • ROLL CALL PRESENT: Mayor McDonnell, Councilmember Barnacle, Councilmember Cader Thompson, Councilmember DeCarli, Vice Mayor Nau, Councilmember Quint, Councilmember Shribbs ABSENT: None • PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE • MOMENT OF SILENCE AGENDA CHANGES AND DELETIONS (TO CURRENT AGENDA ONLY) None. PROCLAMATION • Sexual Assault Awareness Month Georgina Bugarin, Domestic Violence Advocate, accepted the proclamation and made comment. • National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week Chief Brian Miller, Deputy Chief Nick McGowan, and Tina Thomsen, Manager of the Technical Services Division, accepted the proclamation and made comment. • Fair Housing Month Elece Hempel, Executive Director, and Bianca Aldas of Petaluma People Services Center accepted the proclamation and made comment. PRESENTATION • Supervisor David Rabbitt Annual Update Supervisor David Rabbitt 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. Katherine Bobrowski Adina Flores Jodi Johnson Janis Barker Chris Parker Tim Porteous Elvia Calderon Kris Rebillot John Hanania Amy Atchley Darrell Pike Wayne Eckstrom Paul Guerrero Mayor McDonnell closed the general public comment. COUNCIL COMMENT Councilmember Shribbs Councilmember Quint Councilmember DeCarli Vice Mayor Nau Councilmember Cader Thompson Councilmember Barnacle Mayor McDonnell CITY MANAGER COMMENT City Manager Peggy Flynn CONSENT CALENDAR 1. Approved Minutes of the City Council/PCDSA Regular Meeting of March 17, 2025 2. Approved Tentative Agendas for City Council/PCDSA Special Meeting of April 14, 2025, Regular Meeting of April 21, 2025 and Significant Agenda Items for April - June 2025 3. Adopted Resolution No. 2025-030 N.C.S. Accepting Claims and Bills for October, November and December 2024 4. Adopted Resolution No. 2025-031 N.C.S. to Receive and File the City Treasurer’s Quarterly Report Dated December 31, 2024 5. Adopted Resolution No. 2025-032 N.C.S. Amending the Classification and Compensation Plan and Authorizing and Eliminating Position or Funding Allocations Associated with the Adopted Fiscal Year 24/25 Budget by 1) Establishing the Classifications and Pay Ranges of Project Manager I/II, Senior Project Manager, and Senior Environmental Services Analyst; 2) Revising the Classification Specifications of Environmental Services Technician and Environmental Services Analyst; 3) Eliminating the Classification of Project Manager; 4) Authorizing the Position Allocation of One (1)

Senior Environmental Services Analyst; and 5) Eliminating the Position or Funding Allocation of One (1) Environmental Services Analyst Mayor McDonnell opened the public comment on the Consent Calendar. Adina Flores Mayor McDonnell closed the public comment on the Consent Calendar. Motion to adopt Consent Calendar items #1 through 5 made by Councilmember Cader Thompson, seconded by Vice Mayor Nau. Vote: Carried 7-0 Yes: Councilmember Barnacle, Councilmember Cader Thompson, Councilmember DeCarli, Vice Mayor Nau, Councilmember Quint, Councilmember Shribbs, Mayor McDonnell No: None Absent: None Recused: None PUBLIC HEARINGS AND MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION 6. Resolution Recommending Appointments to the Mayors' and Councilmembers' Association to Fill Vacancies on Regional Bodies Caitlin Corley, City Clerk presented the staff report. Mayor McDonnell opened the public comment, and seeing no one come forward to speak, he closed the public comment. Council discussion followed. The following list of appointments was determined: Board of Directors Appointments Regular Seat Sandra Lowe Measure H Oversight Committee Regular Seat Neysa Hinton Primary Seat Janice Cader Thompson North Bay Division LOCC, Executive Board Alternate Seat Susan Harvey Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Regular Seat John Shribbs Space District Citizens Advisory Committee Regular Seat Karen Nau Motion to adopt Resolution No. 2025-033 N.C.S. made by Councilmember Barnacle, seconded by Councilmember Cader Thompson. Vote: Carried 7-0 Yes: Councilmember Barnacle, Councilmember Cader Thompson, Councilmember DeCarli, Vice Mayor Nau, Councilmember Quint, Councilmember Shribbs, Mayor McDonnell No: None Absent: None Recused: None 7. Resolutions Ordering Abatement of Nuisances Consisting of Hazardous Vegetation and Rubbish Growing Upon Public and Private Property in the City of Petaluma and Ordering the Fire Department to Abate Said Hazardous Vegetation and Rubbish by Contract if Property Owners Fail to Do So Pursuant to Chapter 10.70 of the Petaluma Municipal Code Jessica Power, Fire Marshal presented the staff report.

Mayor McDonnell opened the public comment, and seeing no one come forward to speak, he closed the public comment. Council discussion followed. Motion to adopt Resolution No. 2025-034 N.C.S. made by Councilmember Cader Thompson, seconded by Vice Mayor Nau. Vote: Carried 7-0 Yes: Councilmember Barnacle, Councilmember Cader Thompson, Councilmember DeCarli, Vice Mayor Nau, Councilmember Quint, Councilmember Shribbs, Mayor McDonnell No: None Absent: None Recused: None Motion to adopt Resolution No. 2025-035 N.C.S. made by Councilmember Cader Thompson, seconded by Councilmember Barnacle. Vote: Carried 6-0 Yes: Councilmember Barnacle, Councilmember Cader Thompson, Councilmember DeCarli, Vice Mayor Nau, Councilmember Quint, Councilmember Shribbs No: None Absent: None Recused: Mayor McDonnell Motion to adopt Resolution No. 2025-036 N.C.S. made by Councilmember Shribbs, seconded by Councilmember Cader Thompson. Vote: Carried 6-0 Yes: Councilmember Cader Thompson, Councilmember DeCarli, Vice Mayor Nau, Councilmember Quint, Councilmember Shribbs, Mayor McDonnell No: None Absent: None Recused: Councilmember Barnacle Motion to adopt Resolution No. 2025-037 N.C.S. made by Councilmember Shribbs, seconded by Vice Mayor Nau. Vote: Carried 6-0 Yes: Councilmember Barnacle, Councilmember Cader Thompson, Vice Mayor Nau, Councilmember Quint, Councilmember Shribbs, Mayor McDonnell No: None Absent: None Recused: Councilmember DeCarli, Motion to adopt Resolution No. 2025-038 N.C.S. made by Vice Mayor Nau, seconded by Councilmember Barnacle. Vote: Carried 6-0 Yes: Councilmember Barnacle, Councilmember Cader Thompson, Councilmember DeCarli, Vice Mayor Nau, Councilmember Quint, Mayor McDonnell No: None Absent: None Recused: Councilmember Shribbs 8. Public Hearing and Approve a Resolution Approving the Issuance of Revenue Bonds by the California Municipal Finance Authority (CMFA) in an Aggregate Principal Amount Not to Exceed

$65,000,000 to Finance an Affordable Rental Housing Facility for the Benefit of Danco Communities for the Meridian at Petaluma North Station Project, located and 890 North McDowell Blvd., and Certain Other Matters Relating Thereto and Finding that this Item is not a ”Project” Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Karen Shimizu, Assistant Director of Community Development and Sarah Wolf, Housing Specialist presented the staff report. Mayor McDonnell opened the public comment, and seeing no one come forward to speak, he closed the public comment. Council discussion followed. Motion to adopt Resolution No. 2025-039 N.C.S. made by Councilmember Barnacle, seconded by Councilmember Cader Thompson. Vote: Carried 7-0 Yes: Councilmember Barnacle, Councilmember Cader Thompson, Councilmember DeCarli, Vice Mayor Nau, Councilmember Quint, Councilmember Shribbs, Mayor McDonnell No: None Absent: None Recused: None 9. Public Hearing and Approve a Resolution Approving the Issuance of Revenue Bonds by the California Municipal Finance Authority (CMFA) in an Aggregate Principal Amount Not to Exceed $65,000,000 to Finance an Affordable Rental Housing Facility for the Benefit of Danco Communities for the Meridian at Petaluma North Station Project, located and 890 North McDowell Blvd., and Certain Other Matters Relating Thereto and Finding that this Item is not a ”Project” Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Karen Shimizu, Assistant Director of Community Development and Sarah Wolf, Housing Specialist presented the staff report. Mayor McDonnell opened the public comment, and seeing no one come forward to speak, he closed the public comment. Council discussion followed. Motion to adopt Resolution No. 2025-040 N.C.S. made by Councilmember Barnacle, seconded by Councilmember Cader Thompson. Vote: Carried 6-1 Yes: Councilmember Barnacle, Councilmember Cader Thompson, Vice Mayor Nau, Councilmember Quint, Councilmember Shribbs, Mayor McDonnell No: Councilmember DeCarli Absent: None Recused: None 10. Receive and review the 2024 Independent Police Auditor’s (IPA) Annual Report, covering the period from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024, and the 2025 Independent Police Auditor’s Work Plan Police Chief Brian Miller and Jeff Schlanger CEO of IntegrAssure LLC presented the staff report. Mayor McDonnell opened the public comment. John Hanania Mayor McDonnell closed the public comment. Council discussion followed.

ADJOURNMENT Mayor McDonnell adjourned the meeting at 9:25 p.m. in memory of Gloria Robinson, longtime community leader, activist, volunteer, and co-founder of Petaluma Blacks for Community Development.