City Council

City Council — June 2, 2025

This was a regular joint meeting of the Petaluma City Council and the Petaluma Community Development Successor Agency (PCDSA), featuring a closed session, three proclamations, and substantive action on the city's fire hazard zoning and fiscal year 2025–26 budget. The meeting was adjourned in memory of Ross Parkerson, former Councilmember and artist. Councilmember Shribbs was absent for the start of closed session but joined at 6:15 p.m. and was present for the full regular session.

Closed Session Report-Out

The Council met in closed session on two existing litigation matters. City Attorney Eric Danly reported that the Council unanimously authorized a $650,000 settlement to fully resolve Sonoma County Superior Court Case No. 24CV5486 (Haas et al. v. State of California, County of Sonoma, City of Petaluma, et al.), resulting in a general release for the City. No report was made on the second matter (Bernard v. City of Petaluma). Danly also separately noted an update on mobile home litigation during the regular session.

Proclamations

The Council issued proclamations recognizing LGBTQ+ Pride Month (accepted by Petaluma Pride representatives Brandon Allen and Robin Riley), Coast Guard City designation (accepted by Captain Matthew Chong, Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard Training Center), and National Gun Violence Awareness Day (accepted by Jean Reed of the Petaluma branch of the American Association of University Women).

General Public Comment

Twelve members of the public spoke on items not on the agenda, including Nina Zhito, John Hanania, Katherine Bobrowski, Jodi Johnson, Kelly Walker, Tim Porteous, Sandra Shand, Jason Clymer, Bryant Moynihan, David Dodd, Angeles Cruz, and Gisela Ruiz. The minutes do not detail the substance of individual comments.

Consent Calendar (Items 1–7, 9–10)

The bulk of the consent calendar passed without discussion. Items approved as a group included: minutes of the May 19 meeting; the tentative agenda through August 2025; the city's investment policy for FY 2025–26; status reports and audited financials for both the Petaluma Public Financing Corporation and the Petaluma Public Financing Authority for FY 2023–24; acceptance of claims and bills for January–March 2025; a resolution continuing current budget appropriation ordinances until the new FY 2025–26 ordinances take effect; and fixed and observed holidays for FY 2025–26. The Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC) grant item (Item 12) was pulled from the agenda entirely by staff and will return at a future meeting.

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

Living Wage Rate Adjustment (Item 8)

This item was pulled from the consent calendar for separate consideration. The resolution sets the city's living wage rate for FY 2025–26 at $19.41 per hour for positions where the employer contributes toward medical benefits, and $21.75 per hour for positions without that contribution. It also adjusts pay rates for part-time living wage positions and benchmarked part-time positions accordingly. No public comment was received.

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

Solar EV Charging System Purchase (Item 11)

Also pulled for separate consideration, this resolution authorized the purchase of one Beam Solar Arc EV charging system through the Sourcewell cooperative purchasing program at a cost of $103,362.79, with the City Manager authorized to execute all necessary documents. No public comment was received. Councilmember DeCarli voted against the purchase; the minutes do not record his stated reason.

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

Letter of Support for South Sonoma Mountain Project (Item 13)

Councilmembers Barnacle and DeCarli each requested this item be pulled for separate consideration. The resolution would authorize the city to send a letter of support for the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District's South Sonoma Mountain Project, an open space and agricultural land conservation initiative. No public comment was received. The item passed on a divided vote; the minutes do not record the specific objections raised by the three dissenting members.

Vote: Carried 4–3. Moved by Vice Mayor Nau, seconded by Councilmember Shribbs. Yes: McDonnell, Nau, Quint, Shribbs. No: Barnacle, Cader Thompson, DeCarli.

Fire Hazard Severity Zones — First Reading (Item 14)

Fire Marshal Jessica Power presented this ordinance, which formally adopts the Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps as updated by CAL FIRE and reaffirms the city's existing 2007 Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) map, as required under California Government Code Sections 51178–51179. This is a state-mandated update reflecting CAL FIRE's revised hazard classifications. No public comment was received. As a first reading, the ordinance will require a second reading before taking effect.

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

FY 2025–26 City Budget — First Reading (Item 15)

Interim Finance Director Corey Garberolio presented the proposed budget for fiscal year 2025–26. The Council took action on three related items: adoption of the city budget resolution, a resolution updating the full-time authorized and funded position schedule, and the first reading of the FY 2025–26 city appropriations ordinance. Seven members of the public commented, including Wayne Eckstrom, Nickola Frye, Darren Racusen, Don Forman, Maureen Gottschall, Katherine Rinehart, and John Hanania. The minutes do not summarize the substance of those comments. The budget passed unanimously. A second reading of the appropriations ordinance will be required before it takes effect. The specific budget figures and position changes are not detailed in the minutes excerpt.

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

Key Takeaways