City Council

City Council — June 17, 2024

This was a regular City Council meeting that ran past 11:00 p.m. and covered a range of items including budget adoption, a contested annexation proposal, a wave of commission appointments, and a significant expansion of cannabis retail rules. Councilmember Nau was absent throughout.

Proclamations and Presentations

The Council recognized Juneteenth, with Faith Ross of Petaluma Blacks for Community Development accepting the proclamation and offering remarks. Staff also provided an update on the Caulfield Bridge project.

Consent Calendar (Items 1–6)

All six consent items passed unanimously 6-0. Notably, Councilmember Healy requested that a presentation on the city's cancellation of its agreement with Old Adobe Developmental Services be added to the July 1 agenda. The consent items approved routine matters including: adoption of meeting minutes, the FY 2024-25 appropriations limit, a contract award to Olympus and Associates for the Hardin Tank Recoating Project, authorization to join the Town of Windsor Biosolids Collaborative, and wastewater treatment chemical contracts for FY 24-25.

Vote: Carried 6-0

Item 7: FY 2024-25 Budget Appropriations Ordinance (Second Reading)

Finance Director Jessie Gooch presented the staff report on the city's annual budget ordinance. No members of the public commented. The ordinance passed on its second and final reading, with Councilmember Healy casting the lone dissenting vote. The minutes do not detail the reason for Healy's no vote.

Vote: Carried 5-1 (No: Healy; Absent: Nau)

Item 8: Prezoning and Annexation of 5400 Old Redwood Highway

Senior Planner Mike Janusek presented a proposal to prezone a 12.9-acre site at 5400 Old Redwood Highway — assigning it Business Park (BP), Open Space and Park (OSP), and Floodplain Combining District (FPC) designations — in advance of a formal annexation application to Sonoma LAFCO.

Several members of the public weighed in. Alex DeCarli, Duane Bellinger, David Keller (who received ceded time from John Hanania), Jamie Reagan, and Rick Savel all spoke. While the minutes do not detail each speaker's position, the concerns raised were significant enough to prompt the Council to pump the brakes. After discussion, the Council voted to continue the item to a date uncertain, directing staff to return with more information about hydrological impacts and the potential increase in impervious surface coverage that annexation and development under Business Park zoning could produce. Vice Mayor Shribbs was the only member who voted against the continuance, suggesting a preference to move forward.

Vote: Carried 5-1 to continue (No: Shribbs; Absent: Nau)

Item 9: Committee and Commission Appointments

City Clerk Caitlin Corley presented appointments across more than a dozen boards and commissions. Two members of the public — Darren Racusen and Nickola Frye — spoke during public comment (both were themselves applicants who were ultimately appointed).

The Council confirmed appointments to the Airport Commission, Climate Action Commission (including two youth members), Historic and Cultural Preservation Committee, Measure U Oversight Committee, Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee, Planning Commission, Public Art Committee, Public Safety Advisory Committee, Recreation Music and Parks Commission, Senior Advisory Committee, Transit Advisory Committee, and Tree Advisory Committee. Several seats on the Historic and Cultural Preservation Committee, Public Safety Advisory Committee, and Tree Advisory Committee were left open to be filled at a future meeting.

Notably, this meeting established the inaugural membership of the newly created Public Safety Advisory Committee, seating five members. Councilmember Pocekay was approved as the Council Liaison to that committee; Vice Mayor Cader Thompson removed herself from consideration for that liaison role.

Also of note: former Councilmember Frank Quint was appointed to the Transit Advisory Committee.

Vote: Carried 6-0

Item 10: Cannabis Retail Sales — Zoning and Permit Ordinances (First Reading)

City Attorney Eric Danly presented a package of two ordinances and a resolution that would expand on-site retail cannabis sales in Petaluma. The original proposal focused on allowing up to three retail cannabis locations in Business Park and Industrial zones.

Six members of the public spoke: Jamie Reagan, Mike Getlin, Brandon Levine, Nick Caston, Claire Firestorm, and Theresa Teuma. The discussion was substantive enough that the meeting ran past 11:00 p.m., requiring a separate vote to continue.

After public comment and Council deliberation, the Council directed several meaningful changes to the draft ordinances before the first reading vote:

The ordinances passed their first reading with all directed changes incorporated. A second reading will be required before they take effect.

Vote: Carried 6-0 (Absent: Nau)

Key Takeaways