Name: Petaluma City Council meeting, Feb 24, 2025
Start: 2025-02-24
Location: City of Petaluma

City Council

Mon, February 24, 2025

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Meeting summaryAI-generated

City Council — February 24, 2025

This was a regular City Council meeting that ran well past 11:00 p.m., driven primarily by extensive public comment and council deliberation on a major downtown zoning overhaul. The council was joined by all seven members; Councilmember DeCarli recused himself from one item due to proximity to the project.

Consent Calendar (Items 1–5)

The council approved routine items including meeting minutes from February 3 and February 10, the tentative agenda for the March 3 meeting, acceptance of the completed Oak Hill Well Construction Project, and environmental review approval for a wastewater pump station force main project. Two speakers, Dennis Pocekay and Eric Leland, addressed the consent calendar before it was adopted.

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

Reaffirming Commitment to Immigrants and Compliance with SB 54 (Item 6)

This item was pulled from the consent calendar for a separate vote. The resolution reaffirms the City's commitment to immigrant residents, inclusivity, and compliance with California's sanctuary law, Senate Bill 54, which limits local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Councilmember DeCarli stated he wished to abstain, but under Council Rules (Rule VI, Section D), an abstention not based on a conflict of interest is recorded as a "yes" vote.

Vote: Carried 7–0 (DeCarli recorded as yes per council rules). Moved by Vice Mayor Nau, seconded by Councilmember Cader Thompson.

Petaluma Fairgrounds License Agreement Termination (Item 7)

City Attorney Eric Danly presented a resolution to amend and wind down the existing license agreement between the City and the 4th District Agricultural Association, with termination effective July 15, 2025. Alongside this, City Manager Peggy Flynn provided an update on a separate Professional Services Agreement under which the 4th District Agricultural Association will continue to manage agricultural programming at the 2025 Petaluma Fair — including livestock shows, junior horse shows, Farmers' Day, sheepdog trials, and stills exhibits — on a contracted basis rather than under the prior license structure. Two speakers, Shelina Moreda and Patricia Tuttle Brown, commented during the public hearing.

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

Downtown Housing and Economic Opportunity Overlay & EKN Appellation Hotel EIR (Item 8)

This was the centerpiece of the evening. The council considered a sweeping package of land use approvals affecting downtown Petaluma: certifying a Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR), amending the General Plan to raise the allowable Floor Area Ratio (FAR) in a new Downtown Housing and Economic Opportunity Overlay zone from 2.5 to 6.0, and introducing (first reading) a zoning ordinance creating the overlay zone. The EKN Appellation Hotel project is among the developments that would be enabled by this overlay.

Councilmember DeCarli recused himself because his residence is within 500 feet of the project and left the chamber for the duration of this item.

Staff from the Community Development Department — Director Brian Oh, Principal Environmental Planner Olivia Ervin, and Planning Manager Andrew Trippel — presented the staff report. Public comment was extraordinarily lengthy, with roughly 40 speakers participating, many ceding time to allow others additional minutes. Speakers raised a wide range of views: some supported downtown housing density and economic development, while others expressed concerns about building height, neighborhood character, traffic, the adequacy of the EIR, and the jobs-housing balance. Former Congressman Mike Healy and longtime local figures were among those who spoke. The council voted to extend the meeting past 11:00 p.m. to complete the item (6–0, with DeCarli recused).

During council deliberation, several modifications were requested and incorporated:

The EIR certification resolution was updated to reference an Errata to the Final EIR published with the February 24 staff report.

All resolutions and findings were globally modified to attribute findings to the "City Council" rather than the "City."

The zoning ordinance introduction included two amendments to be incorporated at the second reading: (1) a requirement that any non-residential project or non-residential portion of a mixed-use project seeking a Conditional Use Permit to exceed 45 feet must submit a jobs-housing analysis, including the number and type of permanent jobs created and their wages and benefits; and (2) a tightened architectural standard requiring that applicants demonstrate at least three criteria for "exceptional architecture" (up from a less defined standard) to qualify for a CUP to exceed 45 feet.

Vice Mayor Nau voted against both resolutions, the sole dissent on each vote.

Vote on EIR Certification Resolution (No. 2025-021): Carried 5–1. Yes: Barnacle, Cader Thompson, Quint, Shribbs, McDonnell. No: Nau. Recused: DeCarli. Moved by Councilmember Quint, seconded by Councilmember Cader Thompson.

Vote on General Plan Amendment Resolution (No. 2025-022) and First Reading of Ordinance No. 2900: Carried 5–1. Yes: Barnacle, Cader Thompson, Quint, Shribbs, McDonnell. No: Nau. Recused: DeCarli. Moved by Councilmember Barnacle, seconded by Councilmember Cader Thompson.

The ordinance will return for a second reading with the negotiated amendments incorporated.

*The meeting was adjourned at 11:44 p.m. in memory of former Petaluma Police Sergeant and Sonoma County Supervisor Mike Kearns and former Petaluma Housing Director Bonnie Gaebler.*

Key Takeaways

Downtown zoning overhaul advances: The council certified the EIR and approved a General Plan amendment raising downtown FAR from 2.5 to 6.0, paving the way for significantly taller and denser development — including the EKN Appellation Hotel — in the overlay zone. A second reading of the implementing ordinance is still required.

New safeguards added to height bonus: Developers seeking to exceed 45 feet under the overlay will face stronger requirements: a jobs-housing impact analysis and a stricter architectural excellence standard (at least 3 of the defined criteria must be met).

Petaluma Fair agricultural events preserved: While the City's formal license agreement with the Fairgrounds is being terminated in July 2025, a separate services contract will keep traditional agricultural programming — livestock shows, sheepdog trials, Farmers' Day, and more — at the 2025 fair.

Immigrant sanctuary commitment reaffirmed: The council unanimously adopted a resolution reaffirming compliance with SB 54 and the City's commitment to immigrant residents, though Councilmember DeCarli's stated reluctance was notable.

Vice Mayor Nau dissented on the downtown overlay approvals, the only council member to vote against the project package.

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

Agenda items (8)

Consent Calendar

1Consent CalendarMinutes of the City Council/PCDSA Regular Meeting of February 3, 2025

The council will approve the official minutes from its regular meeting held on February 3, 2025.

2Consent CalendarMinutes of the City Council/PCDSA Special Meeting of February 10, 2025

The council will approve the official minutes from its special meeting held on February 10, 2025.

3Consent CalendarTentative Agenda for City Council/PCDSA Regular Meeting of March 3, 2025 and Significant Agenda Items for Feb April 2025

The council will confirm the agenda for its March 3, 2025 regular meeting and review major items scheduled for February through April 2025.

4Consent CalendarResolution Accepting Completion of the Oak Hill Well Construction Project (C67501611)

The city is formally accepting completion of the Oak Hill Well Construction Project, which adds water supply capacity to Petaluma.

5Consent CalendarResolution Adopting an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for the Primary Influent Pump Station Parallel Force Main Project (C66502032)

The council is adopting environmental review and monitoring requirements for the Primary Influent Pump Station Parallel Force Main Project, which upgrades wastewater infrastructure.

6Consent CalendarResolution Reaffirming the City's Commitment to Immigrants, Inclusivity, and Compliance with California Law, Including Senate Bill 54

The council will reaffirm its commitment to protecting immigrant residents and ensuring the city complies with California's Senate Bill 54, which limits local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

Public Hearing

7Public HearingAdoption of a Resolution Approving an Amendment to the License Agreement between the 4th District Agricultural Association and the City Winding Down and Terminating the License Effective July 15, 2025 and Update from the City Manager Regarding a Professional Services Agreement between the City and the 4th District Agricultural Association for Contract Services for Agricultural Events at the 2025 Petaluma Fair, Including Livestock Shows, Junior Horse Shows, Farmers’ Day, Sheepdog Trials and Stills Exhibits

The city is ending its license agreement with the 4th District Agricultural Association effective July 15, 2025, but will hire them as contractors to manage agricultural events and livestock shows at the 2025 Petaluma Fair.

8Public HearingResolution to Certify the Final Environmental Impact Report (Final EIR) for the Downtown Housing and Economic Opportunity Overlay and EKN Appellation Hotel Project (SCH No. 2024040565). Resolution to adopt a General Plan Amendment to increase the allowable Floor Area Ratio for areas within the Downtown Housing & Economic Opportunity Overlay from 2.5 to 6.0, together with related Findings of Fact and the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP). Introduction (First Reading) of an Ordinance Amending Chapter 2 of the Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance (IZO) to add the Downtown Housing and Economic Opportunity Overlay to the list of Overlay Zones provided in Table 21 (Zones); Amending Chapter 4 of the IZO to add a Footnote to Tables 4.3 (Allowed Land Uses and Permit Requirements for Mixed Use Zones) and 4.10 (MU1 and MU2 Zone Development Standards) Referencing Section 5.070 of the IZO; and Amending Chapter 5 of the IZO to add Section 5.070 and establish the Downtown Housing and Economic Opportunity Overlay Zone and authorize a Zoning Map Amendment to zone applicable parcels. City Record No. PLPJ20220015 (PLGP20230001, PLZA20230002 & PLSR2022 0017) – ITEM PUBLISHED 2/20/25

The council will approve a new Downtown Housing and Economic Opportunity Overlay zone that allows taller buildings (increasing density limits from 2.5 to 6.0 times lot size) to encourage housing and the EKN Appellation Hotel project downtown, following environmental review and public hearing.

Additional votes recorded in minutes

Items 1-5 (Consent Calendar)

Aye 6

Brian BarnacleAye

Frank QuintAye

Janice Cader ThompsonAye

John ShribbsAye

Karen NauAye

Kevin McDonnellAye

Harassment and Hate Crime Protection Resolution

Abstain 1 · Aye 5

Alex DecarliAbstain

Brian BarnacleAye

Frank QuintAye

Janice Cader ThompsonAye

John ShribbsAye

Kevin McDonnellAye

Item (unnamed - early vote)

Aye 4

Frank QuintAye

John ShribbsAye

Karen NauAye

Kevin McDonnellAye

Certifying the Final EIR

Aye 4 · Noe 1

Brian BarnacleAye

Frank QuintAye

Janice Cader ThompsonAye

Karen NauNoe

Kevin McDonnellAye

General Plan and Zoning Ordinance

Aye 4 · Noe 1

Brian BarnacleAye

Frank QuintAye

Janice Cader ThompsonAye

Karen NauNoe

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, February 24, 2025 REGULAR SESSION 5:00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER - REGULAR SESSION - 5:00 P.M. Mayor McDonnell called the meeting back to order at 5:05 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. 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. Kim Scot Martin De La Torre Jodi Johnson Chris Parker Tom Bornheimer Katherine Bobrowski MB Leland Angie Cruz John Hanania Mayor McDonnell closed the general public comment. COUNCIL COMMENT Vice Mayor Nau Councilmember Cader Thompson

Councilmember Barnacle Councilmember DeCarli Councilmember Quint Councilmember Shribbs Mayor McDonnell CITY MANAGER COMMENT City Manager Peggy Flynn CONSENT CALENDAR 1. Approved Minutes of the City Council/PCDSA Regular Meeting of February 3, 2025 2. Approved Minutes of the City Council/PCDSA Special Meeting of February 10, 2025 3. Approved Tentative Agenda for City Council/PCDSA Regular Meeting of March 3, 2025 and Significant Agenda Items for Feb - April 2025 4. Adopted Resolution No. 2025-017 N.C.S. Accepting Completion of the Oak Hill Well Construction Project (C67501611) 5. Adopted Resolution No. 2025-018 N.C.S. Adopting an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for the Primary Influent Pump Station Parallel Force Main Project (C66502032) 6. [Removed from Consent Calendar] Mayor McDonnell opened the public comment on the Consent Calendar. Dennis Pocekay Eric Leland 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 6. Resolution Reaffirming the City's Commitment to Immigrants, Inclusivity, and Compliance with California Law, Including Senate Bill 54 Motion to adopt Resolution No. 2025-019 N.C.S. made by Vice Mayor Nau, seconded by Councilmember Cader Thompson. Councilmember DeCarli indicated that he would abstain from the vote, however Rule VI (D) of the Council Rules and Procedures dictates that Clerk is required to record any abstention that is not due to a conflict of interest as a "yes" vote. 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 7. Adoption of a Resolution Approving an Amendment to the License Agreement between the 4th District Agricultural Association and the City Winding Down and Terminating the License Effective July 15, 2025 and Update from the City Manager Regarding a Professional Services Agreement between the City and the 4th District Agricultural Association for Contract Services for Agricultural Events at the 2025 Petaluma Fair, Including Livestock Shows, Junior Horse Shows, Farmers’ Day, Sheepdog Trials and Stills Exhibits Eric Danly, City Attorney presented the staff report. Mayor McDonnell opened the public comment. Shelina Moreda Patricia Tuttle Brown Mayor McDonnell closed the public comment. Motion to adopt Resolution No. 2025-020 N.C.S. made by Councilmember Cader Thompson, seconded by Councilmember Quint. 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 8. Resolution to Certify the Final Environmental Impact Report (Final EIR) for the Downtown Housing and Economic Opportunity Overlay and EKN Appellation Hotel Project (SCH No. 2024040565). Resolution to adopt a General Plan Amendment to increase the allowable Floor Area Ratio for areas within the Downtown Housing & Economic Opportunity Overlay from 2.5 to 6.0, together with related Findings of Fact and the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP). Introduction (First Reading) of an Ordinance Amending Chapter 2 of the Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance (IZO) to add the Downtown Housing and Economic Opportunity Overlay to the list of Overlay Zones provided in Table 2-1 (Zones); Amending Chapter 4 of the IZO to add a Footnote to Tables 4.3 (Allowed Land Uses and Permit Requirements for Mixed Use Zones) and 4.10 (MU1 and MU2 Zone Development Standards) Referencing Section 5.070 of the IZO; and Amending Chapter 5 of the IZO to add Section 5.070 and establish the Downtown Housing and Economic Opportunity Overlay Zone and authorize a Zoning Map Amendment to zone applicable parcels. Councilmember DeCarli announced that he would recuse due to his residence being within 500 feet of the project, and left the Council Chamber. Brian Oh, Director of Community Development, Olivia Ervin, Principal Environmental Planner, Andrew Trippel, Planning Manager presented the staff report. Mayor McDonnell opened the public comment. Elece Hempel Tom Bornheimer Darren Racusen Shakti Kennedy ceded time to Darren Racusen Sonya Karabel

Marty Bennet Erika Teitzah Karys Iliana Madrigal Hooper Julia Burton Nancy Rapalus Kim Scot Jim Vaugh James R. Burton Patty Norman David Alan Boyd Sandra Cover ceded time to David Alan Boyd Lynn Van Houten ceded time to David Alan Boyd Lynn Woolsey Mike Healy Constance Bay ceded time to Mike Healy Anthony Piro Jason Jenkins Patricia Tuttle Brown Chantal Rogers Maureen Gotschall Kim Wheeler Eric Scher Larry Jonas Susan Biaggi Christine White Lydia Asselin Laurie Treleveu ceded time to Lydia Asselin Kristin Johnson ceded time to Lydia Asselin Tom Gaffey Tom Lewis Shelina Moreda Ronda Black ceded time to Shelina Moreda Don Moreda Jr. ceded time to Shelina Moreda David Keller John Hanania ceded time to David Keller Deborah Moreda Heather Gallagher Esaia González Joe Chapman ceded time to Esaia González Ben Peters Jane Hamilton Mayor McDonnell closed the public comment. Motion to continue meeting past 11:00 p.m. made by Councilmember Cader Thompson, 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

The following changes were requested during Council discussion: • Modification to the EIR Certification Resolution to reference in the recitals the Errata to the FEIR which was published with the staff report on February 24, 2025. • Global modification to all resolutions and findings to modify all references to the "City" making findings to the "City Council" • The introduction of the ordinance was made with the following modifications to be brought back at the second reading: o Additional requirement that a jobs housing analysis be submitted as part of any non-residential project or non-residential portion of a mixed-use project requesting a Conditional Use Permit for approval to exceed 45 feet. The analysis will be based on all pertinent information and applicant shall submit preliminary employment data to the extent known, including the number of permanent jobs to be created in the operations of the non-residential land use and the type of jobs (part-time or full-time), wages, and benefits. This additional submittal requirement is to allow the City to the extent reasonably possible to disclose the foreseeable impact of the project on the jobs-housing balance in Petaluma. o Modify subsection 5.070.F.6 to require that at least three of the criteria for exceptional architecture be demonstrated to meet required criteria for approval of a Conditional Use Permit to exceed 45 feet. Motion to adopt Resolution No. 2025-021 N.C.S. with noted changes made by Councilmember Quint, seconded by Councilmember Cader Thompson. Vote: Carried 5-1 Yes: Councilmember Barnacle, Councilmember Cader Thompson, Councilmember Quint, Councilmember Shribbs, Mayor McDonnell No: Vice Mayor Nau Absent: None Recused: Councilmember DeCarli Motion to adopt Resolution No. 2025-022 N.C.S. and introduce Ordinance No. 2900 N.C.S. with noted changes made by Councilmember Barnacle, seconded by Councilmember Cader Thompson. Vote: Carried 5-1 Yes: Councilmember Barnacle, Councilmember Cader Thompson, Councilmember Quint, Councilmember Shribbs, Mayor McDonnell No: Vice Mayor Nau Absent: None Recused: Councilmember DeCarli Councilmember DeCarli returned to the Council Chambers. ADJOURNMENT Mayor McDonnell adjourned the meeting at 11:44 p.m. in memory of former Petaluma Police Sergeant and Sonoma County Supervisor Mike Kearns and former Petaluma Housing Director Bonnie Gaebler.