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City Council

City Council

Mon, July 1, 2024

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Meeting summaryAI-generated

City Council — July 1, 2024


This was a regular meeting of the Petaluma City Council and Petaluma Community Development Successor Agency (PCDSA), called to order at 6:30 p.m. Councilmember Nau was the only member absent. The session ran until 10:00 p.m. and included several notable presentations, a full consent calendar, and substantive public hearings on fire safety, city office space, railroad quiet zones, and a major ballot measure on the Urban Growth Boundary.


Presentations and Proclamations


The Council recognized National Parks and Recreation Month, with Parks and Recreation Director Drew Halter accepting the proclamation. Assistant Fire Chief Chad Costa was recognized for completing the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer Program, a prestigious leadership credential in the fire service.


Transit Manager Jared Hall presented on bus stop maintenance, which drew public comment from six residents — Nancy Cadena, Shelley Medeiros, Alyssa Ransom, Tori Trentacoste, Westley Macintosh, and Angeles Cruz — suggesting the topic is of active community interest, though the minutes do not detail the specific concerns raised.


Consent Calendar (Items 1–5)


The Council passed all five consent items unanimously without discussion. These included:


Approval of June 17, 2024 meeting minutes
The tentative agenda for July 15, 2024 and a forward look at significant items through September
A $203,355.89 CHP grant to fund DUI education and enforcement campaigns, with the City Manager authorized to execute related documents
2024–25 Housing and Community Service Program funding appropriations, authorizing the City Manager to implement the projects in Exhibit A
Second (final) reading of two cannabis ordinances (Nos. 2891 and 2892 N.C.S.) that permit on-site retail cannabis sales at up to three locations in Commercial 1, Commercial 2, Business Park, and Industrial zones, and consolidate the city's cannabis regulations into a new Municipal Code Chapter 6.10

Vote: Carried 6–0 (Nau absent)


Item 6 — Hazardous Vegetation and Rubbish Abatement


Fire Marshal Jessica Power presented the annual resolution ordering abatement of hazardous vegetation and rubbish on public and private property ahead of fire season. Under Chapter 10.70 of the Municipal Code, property owners are given an opportunity to clear their land; if they fail to do so, the Fire Department may abate by contract and charge the costs back to the property owners. No public comment was received.


Two separate resolutions were adopted. Resolution No. 2024-078 passed 6–0. Resolution No. 2024-079 passed 5–0, with Councilmember Pocekay recused (reason not stated in the minutes).


Vote (Res. 2024-078): Carried 6–0 | Vote (Res. 2024-079): Carried 5–0 (Pocekay recused, Nau absent)


Item 7 — Fire Department Office Space Lease Expansion at 161 2nd St


Senior Management Analyst David Catalinotto presented a first reading of an ordinance authorizing the City Manager to amend the existing lease with Basin Street Properties to add 2,789 square feet of office space at 161 2nd Street for Fire Department administrative offices. No public comment was received. As a first reading, the ordinance will require a second reading to take effect.


Vote: Carried 6–0 (Nau absent)


Item 8 — Amended Joint Quiet Zone Agreement with Sonoma County


City Attorney Eric Danly presented a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an agreement establishing an amended Joint Quiet Zone for railroad crossings, and designating the County of Sonoma as the lead authority for purposes of managing the amended zone. Quiet zones are federally designated areas where train horns are not routinely sounded, reducing noise for nearby residents. No public comment was received.


Vote: Carried 6–0 (Nau absent)


Item 9 — Urban Growth Boundary Extension to 2050 — Ballot Measure for November 2024


This was the most significant and discussed item of the evening. Special Projects Manager Heather Hines and City Attorney Eric Danly presented a resolution to place a measure on the November 5, 2024 general election ballot that would:


Extend the Petaluma Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) through December 31, 2050 (the current UGB expires in 2025)
Modify existing references to specific possible expansion areas
Update criteria specific to Transit Oriented Development (TOD)
Make conforming amendments to the Petaluma General Plan 2025

Five members of the public spoke: Teri Shore, Ann Hamilton, Jake McKenzie, Omar Lopez, and Duane Bellinger. The minutes do not detail their positions, but the range of speakers suggests the community has diverse views on growth boundary policy.


During council discussion, staff identified a correction: in Exhibit A, Section 2.A., a reference to "Figure 2-1 Land Use" was to be deleted. Staff also indicated that Exhibit B would be revised to show the one specific expansion area.


The resolution was adopted with those corrections, and the Council simultaneously appointed an Ad Hoc Committee — Mayor McDonnell and Councilmembers Healy and Barnacle — to draft a support statement for the ballot measure and, if needed, a rebuttal statement. The committee is to bring the draft language back to the full Council for review by August 5, 2024.


Vote: Carried 6–0 (Nau absent)


Key Takeaways


Urban Growth Boundary on the November ballot: Petaluma voters will decide in November whether to extend the city's UGB through 2050, with updated language on expansion areas and transit-oriented development. An Ad Hoc committee of three council members will draft the support argument.
Cannabis retail now officially permitted: The second reading of two cannabis ordinances finalizes the policy allowing up to three on-site retail cannabis sales locations in commercial and industrial zones.
Fire season abatement authorized: The Fire Department is empowered to clear hazardous vegetation from non-compliant properties by contract — an important annual action as Petaluma enters the high-risk fire season.
Railroad quiet zone leadership clarified: Sonoma County will serve as lead authority for the amended Joint Quiet Zone, a step toward reducing train horn noise along shared rail corridors.
$203K DUI enforcement grant accepted: The CHP grant will fund DUI education and enforcement campaigns at no cost to the city budget.

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

Agenda items (9)

Consent Calendar
1Consent CalendarMinutes of the City Council/PCDSA Regular Meeting of June 17, 2024
The council will approve the official minutes from its June 17, 2024 meeting.
2Consent CalendarTentative Agenda for City Council/PCDSA Regular Meeting of July 15, 2024 and Significant Agenda Items for Jul­Sep 2024
The council will confirm the agenda for its July 15, 2024 meeting and review major items planned for the following three months.
3Consent CalendarResolution Authorizing the City of Petaluma to Accept a Grant Award in the Amount of $203,355.89 from the California Highway Patrol to Conduct DUI Education and Enforcement Campaigns and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute all Documents Necessary to Complete the Grant
Petaluma will accept a $203,355.89 grant from the California Highway Patrol to fund DUI prevention education and enforcement efforts in the city.
4Consent CalendarAdopt a Resolution Approving The Funding Appropriations For The 24­25 City of Petaluma’s Housing And Community Service Programs And Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Any Documents Necessary To Implement The Projects And Programs, Included As Exhibit A To The Resolution
The council will approve how to spend city funds on housing and community service programs for the 2024-25 fiscal year.
5Consent CalendarAdoption (Second Reading) of Ordinance No. 2891 N.C.S., Making Findings of Exemption under CEQA and Amending Table 4.4 and Chapter 28 “Glossary” of the Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance to Permit On­Site Retail Cannabis Sales in up to Three Locations in Commercial 1, Commercial 2, Business Park and Industrial Zones, and Adoption (Second Reading) of Ordinance No. 2892 N.C.S. Amending the Petaluma Municipal Code to Relocate the City's Cannabis Regulations to a New Chapter 6.10 Entitled "Cannabis" and to Permit On Site Retail Cannabis Sales in Accordance with the Implementing Zoning Ordinance.
The council will finalize changes to zoning rules and city code to allow retail cannabis shops to operate in up to three locations across commercial and industrial zones in Petaluma.
Public Hearing
6Public HearingResolution 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 clear hazardous vegetation and rubbish from their land, with the Fire Department authorized to do the work at the owner's expense if they don't comply.
Adopted unanimously · 4-0
7Public HearingIntroduction (First Reading) of an Ordinance Authorizing the City Manager to Enter Into a Lease Amendment With Basin Street Properties for 2,789 Square Feet of Additional Office Space for Fire Department Administrative Offices at 161 2nd St
The city is considering leasing an additional 2,789 square feet of office space at 161 2nd Street to expand the Fire Department's administrative offices.
8Public HearingResolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Agreement to Establish Amended Joint Quiet Zone and Designate County of Sonoma as Lead Authority for Purposes of Establishing the Amended Joint Quiet Zone
The council will authorize an agreement to establish a joint quiet zone for aircraft noise and designate Sonoma County as the lead agency to manage it.
9Public HearingResolution of the Petaluma City Council Making Findings of Exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act, Ordering the Submission to the Qualified Electors of the City of an Ordinance to Modify Existing References to Specific Possible Expansion Areas, Modify Criteria Specific to Transit Oriented Development, Extend the Term of the Petaluma Urban Growth Boundary through December 31, 2050, and Make Conforming Amendments to the Petaluma General Plan 2025 at the General Election to be held on November 5, 2024, Requesting the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors to Consolidate said Election with the November 5, 2024 Statewide General Election and Providing for Submission of Ballot Arguments and Rebuttals and Related Matters
Voters will be asked to approve an extension of Petaluma's growth boundary through 2050 and updates to related development rules, with the measure appearing on the November 5, 2024 ballot.

Additional votes recorded in minutes

Consent Calendar

Aye 4
Brian BarnacleAye
Janice Cader ThompsonAye
Karen NauAye
Kevin McDonnellAye

Item 6 (Second Resolution)

Aye 4
Brian BarnacleAye
Janice Cader ThompsonAye
John ShribbsAye
Kevin McDonnellAye

Fairground Station Motion

Aye 3
Brian BarnacleAye
Janice Cader ThompsonAye
Kevin McDonnellAye

Quiet Zone Agreement Resolution

Aye 3
Brian BarnacleAye
Janice Cader ThompsonAye
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 1, 2024 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, Vice Mayor Cader Thompson, Councilmember Healy, Councilmember Pocekay, Councilmember Shribbs ABSENT: Councilmember Nau • PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE • MOMENT OF SILENCE AGENDA CHANGES AND DELETIONS (TO CURRENT AGENDA ONLY) None. PROCLAMATIONS • National Parks and Recreation Month Drew Halter, Director of Parks and Recreation accepted the proclamation and made comments. PRESENTATION • Recognition of Assistant Fire Chief Costa’s Graduation from the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program Fire Chief Jeff Schach presented. Assistant Fire Chief Chad Costa thanked the Chief and City Council for the recognition. • Bus Stop Maintenance Jared Hall, Transit Manager presented. Mayor McDonnell opened a public comment on the Bus Stop Maintenance presentation. Nancy Cadena Shelley Medeiros Alyssa Ransom
Tori Trentacoste Westley Macintosh Angeles Cruz Mayor McDonnell closed the public comment. 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 Rob Anello Sandra Shand Jodi Johnson Kelly Walker Chris Parker Deb Vitelli Angie Cruz Marie Cuneo Janis Barker Tim Porteous Sheila E. Aileen John Robbins Mayor McDonnell closed the general public comment. COUNCIL COMMENT Vice Mayor Shribbs Councilmember Cader Thompson Councilmember Barnacle Councilmember Healy Councilmember Pocekay Mayor McDonnell CITY MANAGER COMMENT City Manager Peggy Flynn City Attorney Eric Danly CONSENT CALENDAR 1. Minutes of the City Council/PCDSA Regular Meeting of June 17, 2024 2. Tentative Agenda for City Council/PCDSA Regular Meeting of July 15, 2024 and Significant Agenda Items for Jul-Sep 2024 3. Resolution Authorizing the City of Petaluma to Accept a Grant Award in the Amount of $203,355.89 from the California Highway Patrol to Conduct DUI Education and Enforcement Campaigns and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute all Documents Necessary to Complete the Grant
4. Adopt a Resolution Approving The Funding Appropriations For The 24-25 City of Petaluma’s Housing And Community Service Programs And Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Any Documents Necessary To Implement The Projects And Programs, Included As Exhibit A To The Resolution 5. Adoption (Second Reading) of Ordinance No. 2891 N.C.S., Making Findings of Exemption under CEQA and Amending Table 4.4 and Chapter 28 “Glossary” of the Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance to Permit On-Site Retail Cannabis Sales in up to Three Locations in Commercial 1, Commercial 2, Business Park and Industrial Zones, and Adoption (Second Reading) of Ordinance No. 2892 N.C.S. Amending the Petaluma Municipal Code to Relocate the City's Cannabis Regulations to a New Chapter 6.10 Entitled "Cannabis" and to Permit On Site Retail Cannabis Sales in Accordance with the Implementing Zoning Ordinance. Mayor McDonnell opened the public comment; receiving none, he closed the public comment. Motion to adopt Consent Calendar items 1 through 5, made by Councilmember Barnacle, seconded by Councilmember Cader Thompson. Vote: Carried 6-0 Yes: Councilmember Barnacle, Councilmember Cader Thompson, Councilmember Healy, Councilmember Pocekay, Vice Mayor Shribbs, Mayor McDonnell No: None Absent: Councilmember Nau Recused: None PUBLIC HEARINGS AND MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION 6. Resolution 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 Marshall presented the staff report. Mayor McDonnell opened the public comment; receiving none, he closed the public comment. Motion to adopt Resolution No. 2024-078 N.C.S. made by Councilmember Healy, seconded by Councilmember Cader Thompson. Vote: Carried 6-0 Yes: Councilmember Barnacle, Councilmember Cader Thompson, Councilmember Healy, Councilmember Pocekay, Vice Mayor Shribbs, Mayor McDonnell No: None Absent: Councilmember Nau Recused: None Motion to adopt Resolution No. 2024-079 N.C.S. made by Councilmember Barnacle, seconded by Councilmember Cader Thompson. Vote: Carried 5-0 Yes: Councilmember Barnacle, Councilmember Cader Thompson, Councilmember Healy, Vice Mayor Shribbs, Mayor McDonnell No: None Absent: Councilmember Nau
Recused: Councilmember Pocekay 7. Introduction (First Reading) of an Ordinance Authorizing the City Manager to Enter Into a Lease Amendment With Basin Street Properties for 2,789 Square Feet of Additional Office Space for Fire Department Administrative Offices at 161 2nd St David Catalinotto, Senior Management Analyst presented the staff report. Mayor McDonnell opened the public comment; receiving none, he closed the public comment. Motion to Introduce Ordinance No. 2892 N.C.S. made by Councilmember Cader Thompson, seconded by Councilmember Pocekay. Vote: Carried 6-0 Yes: Councilmember Barnacle, Councilmember Cader Thompson, Councilmember Healy, Councilmember Pocekay, Vice Mayor Shribbs, Mayor McDonnell No: None Absent: Councilmember Nau Recused: None 8. Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Agreement to Establish Amended Joint Quiet Zone and Designate County of Sonoma as Lead Authority for Purposes of Establishing the Amended Joint Quiet Zone Eric Danly, City Attorney presented the staff report. Mayor McDonnell opened the public comment; receiving none, he closed the public comment. Motion to adopt Resolution No. 2024-080 N.C.S. made by Councilmember Healy, seconded by Councilmember Pocekay. Vote: Carried 6-0 Yes: Councilmember Barnacle, Councilmember Cader Thompson, Councilmember Healy, Councilmember Pocekay, Vice Mayor Shribbs, Mayor McDonnell No: None Absent: Councilmember Nau Recused: None 9. Resolution of the Petaluma City Council Making Findings of Exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act, Ordering the Submission to the Qualified Electors of the City of an Ordinance to Modify Existing References to Specific Possible Expansion Areas, Modify Criteria Specific to Transit Oriented Development, Extend the Term of the Petaluma Urban Growth Boundary through December 31, 2050, and Make Conforming Amendments to the Petaluma General Plan 2025 at the General Election to be held on November 5, 2024, Requesting the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors to Consolidate said Election with the November 5, 2024 Statewide General Election and Providing for Submission of Ballot Arguments and Rebuttals and Related Matters Heather Hines, Special Projects Manager and Eric Danly, City Attorney presented the staff report. Mayor McDonnell opened the public comment. Teri Shore Ann Hamilton Jake McKenzie
Omar Lopez Duane Bellinger Mayor McDonnell closed the public comment. Council discussion followed. Staff noted a correction in the draft resolution; in Exhibit A, Section 2.A. reference to "Figure 2-1 Land Use" should be deleted. Staff also indicated that Exhibit B would be revised to show the one specific expansion area. Motion to adopt Resolution No. 2024-081 N.C.S., with the above noted changes, and Appoint Mayor McDonnell and Councilmembers Healy and Barnacle to an Ad Hoc committee to craft the support statement for the ballot measure and a rebuttal statement should that be warranted, to return to Council to review by August 5, 2024, was made by Councilmember Barnacle, seconded by Councilmember Cader Thompson. Vote: Carried 6-0 Yes: Councilmember Barnacle, Councilmember Cader Thompson, Councilmember Healy, Councilmember Pocekay, Vice Mayor Shribbs, Mayor McDonnell No: None Absent: Councilmember Nau Recused: None ADJOURNMENT Mayor McDonnell adjourned the meeting at 10:00 p.m.