City Council

City Council — March 3, 2025

This was a regular meeting of the Petaluma City Council and Petaluma Community Development Successor Agency (PCDSA). All seven councilmembers were present. The meeting ran past 11:00 p.m. and required a vote to continue; one major agenda item was only partially completed and carried over to a future meeting.

Proclamation and Presentation

The Council recognized Equal Pay Day with a proclamation accepted by Pam Granger, Public Policy Chair of the Petaluma Branch of the American Association of University Women. Assistant City Manager Brian Cochran and Management Analyst Delana Bradford also provided an update on the Landscape Assessment District.

Consent Calendar

The Council approved the minutes of the February 24, 2025 meeting and the tentative agenda and significant items list for March through May 2025. No public comment was received on these items.

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

Mid-Year Budget Adjustment and Position Changes (Item 3)

Finance Director Jessie Gooch presented the city's mid-year budget update for Fiscal Year 2024–2025. The Council considered a first reading of an ordinance adjusting appropriations for the current fiscal year, along with resolutions modifying the city's authorized position schedule.

The changes would add seven positions (or partial positions): a Housing Manager, Senior Planner, Recreation Supervisor, Office Assistant, Project Manager, 1.5 Administrative Assistants, and a Utility Service Worker III. Simultaneously, the city would eliminate several positions: a Management Analyst I/II, a Permit Technician, 1.5 Senior Administrative Assistants, and a Utility Service Worker I/II. The restructuring reflects shifting operational needs across departments.

Two members of the public — Chantal Rogers and Maureen Gottschall — spoke during the public comment period. The minutes do not record the substance of their remarks.

The Council introduced Ordinance No. 2901 N.C.S. (first reading) and adopted Resolutions No. 2025-023 N.C.S. and No. 2025-024 N.C.S., approving the budget adjustments and updated position schedule.

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

General Plan Update: Land Use Policy Framework Discussion (Item 4)

Special Projects Manager Heather Hines presented the Land Use Policy Framework, a key component of Petaluma's ongoing General Plan update. The item was structured as a workshop-style discussion across five geographic sections — Upstream, Outlets, River Park, Downstream, Downtown, and the Downtown SMART Station area — with separate public comment periods for each section. The presentation summarized community engagement feedback received to date and sought Council direction to help staff develop a preferred land use map for the Draft General Plan.

Given the meeting's length, only two of the five sections were heard in full. Public commenters weighed in during both sections, with several individuals — including Ali Gaylord, Darren Racusen, Veronica Olsen, and Duane Bellinger — speaking during both comment periods, suggesting sustained community interest in how these areas are designated. Judy Alweld ceded her speaking time to Veronica Olsen during the first section. Nickola Fyre and Lydia Asselin also spoke during the Downtown section.

The Council discussed both sections after public comment but did not reach a final determination. With the meeting approaching 11:00 p.m., the Council voted 6–1 to extend the session past that hour (Councilmember Shribbs voted no). The remaining three geographic sections — and the full item — were continued to a future meeting date.

Vote to extend meeting past 11:00 p.m.: Carried 6–1. Moved by Vice Mayor Nau, seconded by Councilmember Cader Thompson. Councilmember Shribbs dissented.

The item itself was continued — no binding vote was taken on land use designations.

Adjournment

Mayor McDonnell adjourned the meeting at 11:10 p.m. in memory of Mike Gonzalez.

Key Takeaways