City Council
City Council
Mon, July 21, 2025
Agenda items
Vote records
Discussion summary
Transcript
Meeting summaryAI-generated
City Council & PCDSA Regular Meeting — July 21, 2025
This was a regular City Council session that included a closed session on potential litigation, eleven consent calendar items, two public hearings, and a workshop on city events. The meeting opened with a moment of silence for a person killed in a recent downtown traffic incident and adjourned in their memory.
Closed Session — Anticipated Litigation
Before the regular session, the Council met in closed session to discuss a single case involving threatened litigation from the Petaluma Historic Advocates, who had sent written communications to the City Attorney and Council members. No reportable action was announced when the Council returned to open session.
Presentation — Marin Municipal Water District
Paul Sellier of Marin Water presented to the Council, introduced by Deputy Director of Operations Dan Herrera. The minutes do not detail the substance of the presentation, but it follows the consent calendar item (Item 8) supporting a Sonoma-Marin Water Supply Agreement Update, suggesting the presentation was related to regional water supply planning.
Consent Calendar
The Council approved eleven routine items. Two recusals were noted:
Councilmember Shribbs recused from Item 3 (Shollenberger Outdoor Classroom completion) due to his nonprofit's involvement with the original grant.
Vice Mayor Nau recused from Item 9 (Priority Conservation Area nomination) because her residence is within 500 feet of one of the nominated project areas.
Notable items passed include:
Shollenberger Outdoor Classroom & Kiosk Improvements (Item 3): Accepted completion by Precision Excavating and Grading, Inc. and authorized release of retention.
Petaluma Transit Advertising Policy (Item 4): Adopted a new formal policy governing advertising on transit assets.
Lynch Creek Trail Improvements (Item 5): Authorized a cooperative funding agreement with the Sonoma County Transportation and Climate Authorities (SCTCA).
Riverfront Community Facilities District Special Tax (Item 6): Levied the annual special tax for FY 2025/26.
McDowell/Southpoint Emergency Water Main Repair (Item 7): Ratified the emergency contract with Azul Works, Inc. and released the 10% retention.
Sonoma-Marin Water Supply Agreement (Item 8): Council expressed support for the regional water supply agreement update.
Priority Conservation Area Nomination (Item 9): Authorized submission to ABAG nominating Petaluma River Park, Petaluma River Park II, and Climate-Adaptive Safe Routes to School.
Perkins & Will Agreement / North SMART Station Specific Plan (Item 10): Authorized a professional services agreement funded by a Metropolitan Transportation Commission grant to prepare a specific plan for the Petaluma North SMART Station Priority Development Area.
Airport Municipal Code Update (Item 11): Adopted on second reading an ordinance updating Title 16 of the Municipal Code governing airport operations, in compliance with FAA Order 5190.6B.
Votes: Items 1, 2, 4–8, 10, and 11 passed 7-0; Item 3 passed 6-0 (Shribbs recused); Item 9 passed 6-0 (Vice Mayor Nau recused).
Public Hearing: Downtown Housing Overlay — Floor Area Ratio Restoration (Item 12)
City Attorney Eric Danly presented this item, which was added to the agenda on July 17. The Council considered both an urgency ordinance (taking immediate effect) and a standard first-reading ordinance to fix an error in the recently adopted Downtown Housing and Economic Opportunity Overlay. Specifically, the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) in Table 5.2 had been set incorrectly and needed to be restored to 2.5 to match the current General Plan.
Two members of the public spoke — Mike Healy and Lydia Asselin — though their specific comments are not detailed in the minutes. Councilmember DeCarli recused himself from both votes.
The urgency ordinance (No. 2906 N.C.S.) passed 6-0, taking immediate effect. The standard ordinance (No. 2907 N.C.S.) on first reading passed 5-1, with Vice Mayor Nau voting no. The reason for Nau's dissent is not stated in the minutes. A second reading will be required before the standard ordinance is formally adopted.
Public Hearing: SCTCA Funding Program Cycle 2 — Priority Projects (Item 13)
Project Manager Bjorn Griepenburg and Transit Manager Jared Hall presented a list of priority transportation projects for submission to the Sonoma County Transportation and Climate Authorities' Cycle 2 funding call. No members of the public spoke. After council discussion, the resolution was adopted 6-1, with Councilmember DeCarli voting no. His reason for dissent is not detailed in the minutes.
Workshop: 2025 Petaluma Fair and Event Planning (Item 14)
Parks and Recreation Director Drew Halter and Deputy Director Kat Reisinger presented a review of the 2025 Petaluma Fair and broader 2025 city event planning. No public comment was received. The Council discussed the report, but as a workshop item, no binding vote was taken. The minutes do not detail specific direction given to staff.
Key Takeaways
Downtown zoning fix: An urgency ordinance immediately restores the Floor Area Ratio to 2.5 in the Downtown Housing and Economic Opportunity Overlay, correcting an inconsistency with the General Plan; a companion standard ordinance passed first reading 5-1.
North SMART Station planning begins: The city authorized a grant-funded contract with Perkins & Will to develop a specific plan for the Petaluma North SMART Station area, a significant step toward shaping future transit-oriented development.
Regional transportation funding: The Council authorized staff to submit priority projects to SCTCA's Cycle 2 funding program, competing for regional transportation dollars.
Litigation threat from Historic Advocates: The Council met in closed session regarding threatened litigation from the Petaluma Historic Advocates; no action was reported out publicly.
Conservation area nominations: Three Petaluma projects — including two river parks and a safe routes to school initiative — will be nominated to ABAG as Priority Conservation Areas, potentially unlocking future preservation and funding opportunities.
AI-generated summary from voice-to-text transcript. Not the official record. Verify important details with the source documents linked above.
Agenda items (14)
Consent Calendar
1Consent CalendarMinutes of the City Council/PCDSA Regular Meeting of July 7, 2025
Approval of the official minutes from the July 7, 2025 City Council meeting.
Adopted unanimously · 7-0
2Consent CalendarTentative Agenda for City Council/PCDSA Regular Meeting of August 4, 2025 and Significant Agenda Items for July September 2025
Review of the draft agenda for the August 4, 2025 City Council meeting and a preview of major agenda items expected between July and September 2025.
3Consent CalendarResolution Accepting Completion of the Shollenberger Outdoor Classroom & Kiosk Improvements Project (C14502012) by Precision Excavating and Grading, Inc. and Authorizing Release of Retention
The city is accepting completion of outdoor classroom and kiosk improvements at Shollenberger Park and releasing final payment to the contractor, Precision Excavating and Grading, Inc.
4Consent CalendarResolution Adopting the Petaluma Transit Advertising Policy
Adoption of a new policy governing advertising on Petaluma transit buses and shelters.
5Consent CalendarResolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute Cooperative Funding Agreement No. G70401E1 between the Sonoma County Transportation and Climate Authorities and the City of Petaluma for the Lynch Creek Trail Improvements Project
Authorization for the city to sign a funding agreement with Sonoma County Transportation and Climate Authorities to help pay for improvements to Lynch Creek Trail.
6Consent CalendarResolution Adopting the Levying of the Annual Special Tax for The Riverfront Community Facilities District, Fiscal Year 2025/26
Setting the annual special tax rate for the Riverfront Community Facilities District for the 2025/26 fiscal year.
7Consent CalendarResolution Ratifying Award of Contract, Accepting Completion of, and Authorizing Release of the 10% Retention for the McDowell at Southpoint Blvd. Emergency Water Main Repair Project with Azul Works, Inc.
Acceptance of completed emergency water main repairs on McDowell Avenue at Southpoint Boulevard and release of final payment to contractor Azul Works, Inc.
8Consent CalendarRecommendation to Support the SonomaMarin Water Supply Agreement Update
City support for proposed updates to the water supply agreement between Sonoma and Marin counties.
9Consent CalendarResolution Authorizing the City of Petaluma to Submit a Nomination for Designation of Petaluma River Park, Petaluma River Park II and ClimateAdaptive Safe Routes to School as a Priority Conservation Area (PCA) to the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG)
Nomination of Petaluma River Park, Petaluma River Park II, and the Safe Routes to School project to be designated as Priority Conservation Areas by the Association of Bay Area Governments.
Adopted unanimously · 6-0
10Consent CalendarResolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Professional Services Agreement with Perkins &Will, Funded Through Grant Funds Received from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, to Prepare the Petaluma North SMART Station Priority Development Area Specific Plan
Hiring planning consultant Perkins & Will to develop a specific plan for the Petaluma North SMART Station area, with costs covered by a Metropolitan Transportation Commission grant.
11Consent CalendarAdoption (Second Reading) of Ordinance No. 2905 N.C.S. of the City Council of the City of Petaluma to Amend Title 16 of the Petaluma Municipal Code, Entitled “Airport and Aircraft”, including amendments to Chapter 16.04 “General Provisions and Definitions”, Chapter 16.06 “Airport Leases”, Chapter 16.08 “Motor Vehicles at Airport”, Chapter 16.12 “Aircraft on Ground”, Chapter 16.16 “Aircraft Taxiing, Landing and Takeoff”, Chapter 16.20 “Aircraft Traffic Patterns”, Chapter 16.24 “Aircraft Fueling and Defueling”, Chapter, Chapter 16.28 “Airport Fire Safety Rules”, Chapter 16.32 “Unlicensed Aircraft”, Pursuant to Federal Aviation Administration Order 5190.6B, and Chapter 16.32 “Violations and Penalties”
Final adoption of updated airport regulations for Petaluma Municipal Airport, including rules for aircraft operations, safety, and fueling, to comply with federal aviation standards.
Public Hearing
12Public HearingIntroduction (First Reading) of an Ordinance and Adoption of an Urgency Ordinance Amending Ordinance No. 2900 N.C.S. Concerning the Downtown Housing and Economic Opportunity Overlay to Restore Floor Area Ratio (FAR) to 2.5 in Table 5.2 of Section 5.070(D) of the Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance (IZO) to be Consistent with the Current General Plan – ITEM ADDED 71725
Introduction of an emergency ordinance to restore downtown floor area ratios to 2.5 for the Housing and Economic Opportunity Overlay zone to match the current General Plan.
13Public HearingResolution Authorizing Staff to Submit Priority Projects to the Sonoma County Transportation and Climate Authorities (SCTCA) Funding Program Cycle 2 Call for Projects WORKSHOP
Staff will present priority transportation and climate projects for City Council consideration to submit to the Sonoma County Transportation and Climate Authorities funding program.
14Public HearingReview of 2025 Petaluma Fair and 2025 Event Planning
Review and discussion of planning and logistics for the 2025 Petaluma Fair and other upcoming city events.
Additional votes recorded in minutes
Urgency Ordinance
Aye 5
Brian BarnacleAye
Frank QuintAye
Janice Cader ThompsonAye
John ShribbsAye
Kevin McDonnellAye
Item 3
Aye 6
Alex DecarliAye
Brian BarnacleAye
Frank QuintAye
Janice Cader ThompsonAye
Karen NauAye
Kevin McDonnellAye
Regular Ordinance
Aye 5
Brian BarnacleAye
Frank QuintAye
Janice Cader ThompsonAye
John ShribbsAye
Kevin McDonnellAye
Resolution - Sonoma County Transportation Climate Authority Priority Projects
Noe 1 · Aye 5
Alex DecarliNoe
Brian BarnacleAye
Frank QuintAye
Janice Cader ThompsonAye
Karen NauAye
Kevin McDonnellAye
Verbatim transcript available
5 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, July 21, 2025 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. He announced that Councilmember Cader Thompson was participating remotely. • ROLL CALL PRESENT: Mayor McDonnell, Vice Mayor Nau, Councilmember Barnacle, Councilmember Cader Thompson, Councilmember DeCarli, Councilmember Quint, Councilmember Shribbs, ABSENT: None CLOSED SESSION • CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL — ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9 of the Government Code Number of Cases: 1 A point has been reached where, in the opinion of the City Council on the advice of the City Attorney, based on existing facts and circumstances, there is significant exposure to litigation against the City. The facts and circumstances exposing the City to potential litigation are addressed in communications between legal counsel for the Petaluma Historic Advocates and the City Attorney, and correspondence sent by legal counsel for the Petaluma Historic Advocates to the Petaluma City Council Members and/or the City Attorney. The written communication threatening litigation shall be made available for public inspection in accordance with Government Code Section 54957.5. PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION ITEMS Mayor McDonnell opened the public comment and seeing no one come forward to speak, he closed it. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION Council adjourned to closed session at 5:39 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER - REGULAR SESSION - 6:30 P.M. Mayor McDonnell called the meeting back to order at 6:33 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 The Mayor called for a moment of silence in memory of the individual who was killed in the tragic traffic incident downtown. AGENDA CHANGES AND DELETIONS (TO CURRENT AGENDA ONLY) None. REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION None. PRESENTATION • Marin Municipal Water District Presentation Dan Herrera, Deputy Director of Operations, introduced Paul Sellier of Marin Water to present. 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. Dan D’Angelo Christine White Judy Curme Tim Porteous Jennifer Boyle Janis Barker Jodi Johnson Chantal Rogers Ned Scott Katherine Bobrowski Mayor McDonnell closed the general public comment. COUNCIL COMMENT Councilmember Shribbs Councilmember Quint Councilmember Barnacle
Councilmember Cader Thompson Vice Mayor Nau Mayor McDonnell CITY MANAGER COMMENT City Manager Peggy Flynn CONSENT CALENDAR 1. Approved Minutes of the City Council/PCDSA Regular Meeting of July 7, 2025 2. Approved Tentative Agenda for City Council/PCDSA Regular Meeting of August 4, 2025 and Significant Agenda Items for July - September 2025 3. Adopted Resolution No. 2025-110 N.C.S. Accepting Completion of the Shollenberger Outdoor Classroom & Kiosk Improvements Project (C14502012) by Precision Excavating and Grading, Inc. and Authorizing Release of Retention 4. Adopted Resolution 2025-105 N.C.S. Adopting the Petaluma Transit Advertising Policy 5. Adopted Resolution No. 2025-106 N.C.S. Authorizing the City Manager to Execute Cooperative Funding Agreement No. G70401E1 between the Sonoma County Transportation and Climate Authorities and the City of Petaluma for the Lynch Creek Trail Improvements Project 6. Adopted Resolution Non. 2025-107 N.C.S. Adopting the Levying of the Annual Special Tax for The Riverfront Community Facilities District, Fiscal Year 2025/26 7. Adopted Resolution No. 2025-108 N.C.S. Ratifying Award of Contract, Accepting Completion of, and Authorizing Release of the 10% Retention for the McDowell at Southpoint Blvd. Emergency Water Main Repair Project with Azul Works, Inc. 8. Approved Recommendation to Support the Sonoma -Marin Water Supply Agreement Update 9. Adopted Resolution No. 2025-111 N.C.S. Authorizing the City of Petaluma to Submit a Nomination for Designation of Petaluma River Park, Petaluma River Park II and Climate-Adaptive Safe Routes to School as a Priority Conservation Area (PCA) to the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) 10. Adopted Resolution No. 2025-112 N.C.S. Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Professional Services Agreement with Perkins &Will, Funded Through Grant Funds Received from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, to Prepare the Petaluma North SMART Station Priority Development Area Specific Plan 11. Adopted Ordinance No. 2905 N.C.S. Amending Title 16 of the Petaluma Municipal Code, Entitled “Airport and Aircraft”, including amendments to Chapter 16.04 “General Provisions and Definitions”, Chapter 16.06 “Airport Leases”, Chapter 16.08 “Motor Vehicles at Airport”, Chapter 16.12 “Aircraft on Ground”, Chapter 16.16 “Aircraft Taxiing, Landing and Takeoff”, Chapter 16.20 “Aircraft Traffic Patterns”, Chapter 16.24 “Aircraft Fueling and Defueling”, Chapter, Chapter 16.28 “Airport Fire Safety Rules”, Chapter 16.32 “Unlicensed Aircraft”, Pursuant to Federal Aviation Administration Order 5190.6B, and Chapter 16.32 “Violations and Penalties” Councilmember Shribbs announced that he would recuse from Item #3 due to his involvement with the Shollenberger Outdoor Classroom and helped with the original grant through his nonprofit work.
Vice Mayor Nau announced that he would recuse from Item #9 due to the her residence being within 500 feet of one of the projects. Mayor McDonnell opened the public comment on the Consent Calendar. Duane Bellinger Mayor McDonnell closed public comment on the Consent Calendar. Motion to adopt Consent Calendar items #1, 2, 4 through #8, #10, and #11, made by Councilmember Barnacle, 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 Abstain: None Recused: None Motion to adopt Consent Calendar item #3, made by Councilmember Barnacle, seconded by Vice-Mayor Nau. Vote: Carried 6-0 Yes: Councilmember Barnacle, Councilmember DeCarli, Vice Mayor Nau, Councilmember Quint, Mayor McDonnell No: None Absent: None Abstain: None Recused: Councilmember Shribbs Motion to adopt Consent Calendar item #9, made by Councilmember Barnacle, seconded by Councilmember Shribbs. Vote: Carried 6-0 Yes: Councilmember Barnacle, Councilmember DeCarli, Councilmember Quint, Councilmember Shribbs, Mayor McDonnell No: None Absent: None Abstain: None Recused: Vice-Mayor Nau PUBLIC HEARINGS AND MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION 12. Adopted Urgency Ordinance No. 2906 N.C.S. Amending Ordinance No. 2900 N.C.S. Concerning the Downtown Housing and Economic Opportunity Overlay to Restore Floor Area Ratio (FAR) to 2.5 in Table of Section 5.070 (D) of the Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance (IZO) to be Consistent with the Current General Plan Eric Danly, City Attorney presented the staff report. Mayor McDonnell opened the public comment. Mike Healy Lydia Asselin Mayor McDonnell closed the public comment. Motion to adopt Ordinance No. 2906 N.C.S., made by Councilmember Barnacle, seconded by Councilmember Quint.
Vote: Carried 6-0 Yes: Councilmember Barnacle, Councilmember Cader Thompson, Vice Mayor Nau, Councilmember Quint, Councilmember Shribbs, Mayor McDonnell No: None Absent: None Abstain: None Recused: Councilmember DeCarli Motion to introduce Ordinance No. 2907 N.C.S., made by Councilmember Barnacle, seconded by Councilmember Quint. Vote: Carried 5-1 Yes: Councilmember Cader Thompson, Councilmember Quint, Councilmember Shribbs, Mayor McDonnell No: Vice- Mayor Nau Absent: None Abstain: None Recused: Councilmember DeCarli 13. Adopted Resolution No. 2025-112 N.C.S. Authorizing Staff to Submit Priority Projects to the Sonoma County Transportation and Climate Authorities (SCTCA) Funding Program Cycle 2 Call for Projects. Bjorn Griepenburg, Project Manager and Jared Hall, Transit Manager 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. 2025-112 N.C.S., made by Councilmember Quint, seconded by Councilmember Shribbs. Vote: Carried 6-1 Yes: Councilmember Barnacle, Councilmember Cader Thompson, Vice Mayor Nau, Councilmember Quint, Councilmember Shribbs, Mayor McDonnell No: DeCarli Absent: None Abstain: None Recused: None WORKSHOP 14. Review of 2025 Petaluma Fair and 2025 Event Planning Drew Halter, Director of Parks and Recreation and Kat Reisinger, Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation 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. ADJOURNMENT Mayor McDonnell adjourned the meeting at 10:58 p.m. in memory of the individual who was killed in the tragic traffic incident downtown. .