City Council

City Council — April 8, 2024

This was a lengthy regular meeting of the Petaluma City Council and PCDSA that ran past midnight, covering infrastructure contracts, fee schedules, fire hazard abatement, housing grants, and two significant traffic safety initiatives. The meeting opened with a closed session on a workers' compensation litigation matter, with no reportable action.

Proclamations and Presentation

The Council recognized Fair Housing Month and Donate Life Month, with representatives from Petaluma People Services Center and Heartfelt Help Foundation/Donor Network West accepting the proclamations. Staff also delivered a Safe Streets Update, presented by the Deputy Director of Operations and Senior Traffic Engineer — a preview of themes that would dominate the evening's later agenda.

General Public Comment

An unusually large number of residents — nearly 30 speakers — addressed the Council during general public comment. The minutes do not detail what each speaker said, but the volume of participation likely reflected community interest in the traffic calming items later on the agenda.

Consent Calendar (Items 1–8)

The Council unanimously approved all eight consent calendar items 7-0 (moved by Councilmember Healy, seconded by Councilmember Pocekay). These included:

Workshop: Updated Comprehensive User Fee Schedule

Finance Director Jessie Gooch and consultant Tony Thrasher of Wildan Financial Services presented an updated citywide user fee schedule. Councilmembers asked questions of staff. No public comment was received. As a workshop item, no binding vote was taken; this was an informational session to guide future action on fee updates.

Hazardous Vegetation and Rubbish Abatement

Fire Marshal Jessica Power presented the annual resolution authorizing the Fire Department to abate hazardous vegetation and rubbish on public and private property, contracting out the work if property owners fail to comply. No public comment was received. The Council passed the overall abatement resolution 7-0, then addressed seven separate property-specific resolutions (Nos. 2024-032 through 2024-038), each passing 5-0 or 6-0 with various recusals — Mayor McDonnell recused on one, Councilmember Pocekay on another, Vice Mayor Shribbs on another, and Councilmember Barnacle on two, and Councilmember Healy on two — likely due to proximity or other conflicts with specific properties listed.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) 2024-25 Annual Action Plan

Housing Specialist Sarah Wolf presented the city's proposed CDBG Annual Action Plan and an amended Citizen Participation Plan, which must be approved to access federal HUD funding. Nickola Frye spoke during public comment, with John Hanania ceding his time to her. The Council approved the plan and authorized the City Manager to execute all required HUD documents unanimously, 7-0 (moved by Councilmember Barnacle, seconded by Councilmember Pocekay).

School Zone and Business District Speed Limit Reductions (First Reading)

Deputy Director Jeff Stutsman presented a proposed ordinance that would lower speed limits in two contexts: from 25 mph to 15 mph within 500 feet of school zones, and from 25 mph to 20 mph in the Business Activity District, under authority granted by the California Vehicle Code. One speaker, Barry Bussewitz, addressed the Council. The ordinance passed its first reading 6-1, with Councilmember Healy casting the dissenting vote. A second reading will be required before the ordinance takes effect.

D Street Traffic Calming and 5th Street Neighborhood Greenway Pilot Projects

This item drew the most public engagement of the night, with more than 30 speakers addressing the Council — many ceding time to allow others extended remarks. The debate ran so long that the Council voted 7-0 to extend the meeting past 11:00 p.m., and Mayor McDonnell called a recess just before midnight.

At Councilmember Healy's request, the resolution was split so the two projects could be voted on separately.

5th Street Neighborhood Greenway: Approved unanimously 7-0 (moved by Councilmember Healy, seconded by Councilmember Nau). This project will create a lower-traffic, pedestrian- and bike-friendly corridor along 5th Street.

D Street Traffic Calming — Design Alternative Selection: The Council selected Option 1 for the D Street project, with added language at Mayor McDonnell's request explicitly designating the work as a pilot project pending Council approval of full D Street reconstruction. This passed 5-2, with Councilmembers Healy and Nau voting no (moved by Councilmember Barnacle, seconded by Councilmember Cader Thompson). The pilot designation means the design changes will not be considered permanent until the Council separately approves the larger D Street reconstruction effort.

The meeting adjourned at 12:08 a.m. Mayor McDonnell closed in memory of Brie Jorgensen, a Police Evidence Technician who passed away earlier in the month.

Key Takeaways