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City Council

City Council

Mon, March 11, 2024

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Meeting summaryAI-generated

City Council — March 11, 2024


This was a regular meeting of the Petaluma City Council and Petaluma Community Development Successor Agency (PCDSA), opening with a closed session at 6:00 p.m. followed by the regular session at 6:34 p.m. All seven councilmembers were present. (Note: the minutes list Councilmembers Healy and Pocekay as present, though per current known council composition the seated members may differ — the summary reflects the names as recorded in the official minutes.)


Closed Session


The Council met in closed session to discuss two litigation matters: a workers' compensation case brought by Matthew Patterson against the City, and a federal civil rights lawsuit brought by Bruce Terrell against the City, the Petaluma Police Department, and several named officers. City Attorney Eric Danly reported no action taken in closed session.


Proclamations and Recognitions


The Council issued proclamations for Women's History Month, accepted by Colleen Mahoney of the Petaluma Woman's Club and Rebecca Kaykas-Wolff of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women, and for Equal Pay Day, accepted by Pam Granger of the Petaluma Branch of the American Association of University Women. Staff members Brittany Rossi Worthen and Will Crain were recognized for winning 2023 California Water Environment Association Redwood Empire Section awards — Supervisor of the Year and Mechanical Technician Person of the Year, respectively.


General Public Comment


Ten members of the public addressed the Council on items not on the agenda: Dan Lynch, Sandra Shand, Luigi Petrigh-Dove, Erin Oaks, Revelle Mast, Michael Tutone, Jason Sweeney, David Saul, Stuart Nissenbaum, and Matt Maguire. The minutes do not record the substance of their comments.


Consent Calendar


The Council approved all four consent calendar items without discussion. These included: approval of minutes from the February 26, 2024 meeting; the tentative agenda for the March 18 meeting and significant items through May 2024; a resolution authorizing the addition of one Permit Technician position to city staffing; and a resolution approving the Annual Housing Successor Agency Report for fiscal year 2022–2023 and directing staff to submit it to the state Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and the Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR).


Vote: Carried 7–0. Moved by Councilmember Healy, seconded by Councilmember Nau.


Oyster Cove Development — Land Swap and Emergency Access (First Reading)


Planning Manager Andrew Trippel presented this item, which involves a land exchange connected to the approved Oyster Cove residential development near the McNear Channel. The City would acquire a portion of the parcel at 400 Hopper Street and dispose of a portion of the city-owned parcel at 6 Copeland Street. The ordinance also grants the City Manager authority to allow emergency vehicle access for the Oyster Cove development over the portion of 400 Hopper Street that the City acquires. This was the first reading of the ordinance; a second reading will be required before it takes effect. No public comment was received.


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


Annual Housing Element Progress Report — 2023


Assistant Director of Community Development Karen Shimizu and Housing Specialist Sarah Wolf presented Petaluma's Annual Housing Element Progress Report covering calendar year 2023. The report tracks the City's progress toward its state-mandated housing production goals and must be submitted annually to the California Department of Housing and Community Development and the Governor's Office of Planning and Research. The Council adopted the resolution accepting the report and authorizing staff to submit it to those state agencies. No public comment was received.


Vote: Carried 7–0. Moved by Councilmember Healy, seconded by Councilmember Nau.


Cannabis Regulation Options (Workshop)


City Attorney Eric Danly and Economic Development and Open Government Director Ingrid Alverde led a workshop discussion on options for regulating cannabis businesses in Petaluma. Councilmembers asked questions of staff. Because this was a workshop, no binding vote was taken; the discussion was intended to give staff direction on how to proceed with potential regulatory changes.


Four members of the public spoke: Claire Firestone (who also received ceded time from James Clark), Blake Hooper, Jamie Reagan, and John Hanania. The minutes do not detail the substance of their comments or the specific regulatory options discussed. The meeting adjourned at 9:50 p.m.


Key Takeaways


Oyster Cove land exchange advanced: The Council unanimously passed the first reading of an ordinance enabling a land swap and emergency vehicle access easement tied to the approved Oyster Cove development near the McNear Channel; a second reading is still required.
Housing Element report approved for state submission: Petaluma's 2023 housing production progress report was accepted and will be sent to state housing regulators, a routine but legally required compliance step.
New Permit Technician position authorized: The City approved adding one Permit Technician to its staffing allocation, likely to support permitting workload.
Cannabis regulation discussion underway: The Council held a workshop on cannabis business regulation options, signaling that policy changes may be forthcoming, though no decisions were made.
Closed session litigation update: Two active lawsuits against the City were discussed in closed session; no reportable action was taken.

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

Agenda items (7)

Consent Calendar
1Consent CalendarMinutes of the City Council/PCDSA Regular Meeting of February 26, 2024
The council will approve the official minutes from its February 26, 2024 meeting.
2Consent CalendarTentative Agenda for City Council/PCDSA Regular Meeting of March 18, 2024 and Significant Agenda Items for Mar­May 2024
The council will confirm the agenda for its March 18, 2024 meeting and review major agenda items planned for the March through May period.
3Consent CalendarResolution Authorizing the Position Allocation of One Permit Technician
The city is creating one new Permit Technician position to handle building and development permit work.
4Consent CalendarResolution Approving the Annual Housing Successor Agency Report July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023, pursuant to Health and Safety Code §34176.1 and Directing Staff to Submit the Annual Successor Agency Report to the State Department of Housing and Community Development (“HCD”) as an attachment to the Housing Element Annual Progress Report and to the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (“OPR”) and Finding This Item is Exempt from CEQA Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5)
The city must submit its annual Housing Successor Agency report covering July 2022 through June 2023 to state housing authorities, as required by law.
Public Hearing
5Public HearingIntroduction of an Ordinance (First Reading) of the City Council of the City of Petaluma Approving the Acquisition of a Portion of a Parcel Located at 400 Hopper Street (APN 007­163­008) and Disposition of a Portion of a Parcel Located at 6 Copeland Street (APN 007­700­002) Between the McNear Channel and Hopper Street and Granting Authority to the City Manager to Provide Emergency Vehicle Access for the Approved Oyster Cove Development (City Record No. PLPJ­2022­0005) Over a Portion of the Land Located at 400 Hopper Street (APN 007­163­008) Following Acquisition by the City
The city is proposing to buy part of the property at 400 Hopper Street and sell part of 6 Copeland Street to support the Oyster Cove development, and allow emergency vehicle access across the city-owned land.
6Public HearingResolution Accepting the Annual Housing Element Progress Report for the 2023 Calendar Year and Authorizing Staff to Submit the Report to the California Department of Housing and Community Development and the Governor's Office of Planning and Research WORKSHOP
The city will review and approve its 2023 housing progress report, documenting whether it met its goals for affordable housing and development, before submitting it to state officials.
7Public HearingDiscussion of Cannabis Regulation Options
The council will hold a public discussion about how to regulate cannabis businesses and use in Petaluma.

Additional votes recorded in minutes

Consent Calendar Items 1-4

Aye 4
Brian BarnacleAye
Janice Cader ThompsonAye
Karen NauAye
Kevin McDonnellAye

Oyster Cove Development

Aye 5
Brian BarnacleAye
Janice Cader ThompsonAye
John ShribbsAye
Karen NauAye
Kevin McDonnellAye

Housing/Development Item

Aye 5
Brian BarnacleAye
Janice Cader ThompsonAye
John ShribbsAye
Karen NauAye
Kevin McDonnellAye

Verbatim transcript available

4 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, March 11, 2024 CLOSED SESSION 6:00 P.M. / REGULAR SESSION 6:30 P.M. CALL TO ORDER – CLOSED SESSION – 6:00 P.M. Mayor McDonnell called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. • ROLL CALL PRESENT: Mayor McDonnell, Councilmember Barnacle, Councilmember Cader Thompson, Councilmember Healy, Councilmember Nau, Councilmember Pocekay, Vice Mayor Shribbs ABSENT: None CLOSED SESSION • CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION Pursuant to California Government Code section 54956.9(a) Patterson, Matthew v. City of Petaluma Workers Compensation Appeals Board, Case Numbers: ADJ17550355 • CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION Pursuant to Paragraph (1) of Subdivision (d) of California Government Code Section 54956.9 Bruce Terrell v. City of Petaluma, Petaluma Police Department, Police Chief Ken Savano, Sergeant Rick Cox, Officer Adam Wirtz, Officer Brandon Haug, Officer Steven Clustka, Officer Jacob Smith and Does 1 through 50, United States District Court, Northern District of California, Case No. 3:22-cv- 05411-AMO PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION ITEMS Mayor McDonnell opened the public comment; receiving none, he closed the public comment. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION Council adjourned to closed session at 6:02 p.m. CALL TO ORDER - REGULAR SESSION - 6:30 P.M. Mayor McDonnell called the meeting back to order at 6:34 p.m. • ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Mayor McDonnell, Councilmember Barnacle, Vice Mayor Cader Thompson, Councilmember Healy, Councilmember Nau, Councilmember Pocekay, Councilmember Shribbs ABSENT: None • PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE • MOMENT OF SILENCE AGENDA CHANGES AND DELETIONS (TO CURRENT AGENDA ONLY) None. REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION City Attorney Eric Danly stated that there had been no reportable action. PROCLAMATIONS • Women’s History Month Colleen Mahoney, President of Petaluma Woman's Club and Rebecca Kaykas-Wolff, Commissioner on the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women accepted the proclamation. • Equal Pay Day Pam Granger, Public Policy Chair of the Petaluma Branch of the American Association of University Women accepted the proclamation. PRESENTATION • Recognition of Staff – Brittany Rossi Worthen and Will Crain Chelsea Thompson, Deputy Director of Environmental Services, recognized 2023 California Water Environment Association Redwood Empire Section Award Winners Brittany Rossi, Supervisor of the Year, and Will Crain, Mechanical Technician Person of the Year. 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. Dan Lynch Sandra Shand Luigi Petrigh-Dove Erin Oaks Revelle Mast Michael Tutone Jason Sweeney David Saul Stuart Nissenbaum Matt Maguire Mayor McDonnell closed the general public comment.
COUNCIL COMMENT Councilmember Shribbs Councilmember Cader Thompson Councilmember Barnacle Councilmember Pocekay Councilmember Nau Councilmember Healy Mayor McDonnell CITY MANAGER COMMENT City Manager Peggy Flynn CONSENT CALENDAR 1. Minutes of the City Council/PCDSA Regular Meeting of February 26, 2024 2. Tentative Agenda for City Council/PCDSA Regular Meeting of March 18, 2024 and Significant Agenda Items for Mar-May 2024 3. Resolution No. 2024-018 N.C.S. Authorizing the Position Allocation of One Permit Technician 4. Resolution No. 2024-019 N.C.S. Approving the Annual Housing Successor Agency Report July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023, pursuant to Health and Safety Code §34176.1 and Directing Staff to Submit the Annual Successor Agency Report to the State Department of Housing and Community Development (“HCD”) as an attachment to the Housing Element Annual Progress Report and to the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (“OPR”) and Finding This Item is Exempt from CEQA Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5) Mayor McDonnell opened the public comment; receiving none, he closed the public comment. Motion to adopt Consent Calendar items 1 through 4 made by Councilmember Healy, seconded by Councilmember Nau. Vote: Carried 7-0 Yes: Councilmember Barnacle, Councilmember Cader Thompson, Councilmember Healy, Councilmember Nau, Councilmember Pocekay, Vice Mayor Shribbs, Mayor McDonnell No: None Absent: None Recused: None PUBLIC HEARINGS AND MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION 5. Introduction (First Reading) of Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Petaluma No. 2880 N.C.S. Approving the Acquisition of a Portion of a Parcel Located at 400 Hopper Street (APN 007-163-008) and Disposition of a Portion of a Parcel Located at 6 Copeland Street (APN 007-700-002) Between the McNear Channel and Hopper Street and Granting Authority to the City Manager to Provide Emergency Vehicle Access for the Approved Oyster Cove Development (City Record No. PLPJ-2022-0005) Over a Portion of the Land Located at 400 Hopper Street (APN 007-163-008) Following Acquisition by the City Planning Manager Andrew Trippel presented the staff report. Mayor McDonnell opened the public comment; receiving none, he closed the public comment.
Motion to introduce Ordinance No. 2880 N.C.S. made by Councilmember Cader Thompson, seconded by Councilmember Healy. Vote: Carried 7-0 Yes: Councilmember Barnacle, Councilmember Cader Thompson, Councilmember Healy, Councilmember Nau, Councilmember Pocekay, Vice Mayor Shribbs, Mayor McDonnell No: None Absent: None Recused: None 6. Resolution Accepting the Annual Housing Element Progress Report for the 2023 Calendar Year and Authorizing Staff to Submit the Report to the California Department of Housing and Community Development and the Governor's Office of Planning and Research Assistant Director of Community Development Karen Shimizu and Housing Specialist Sarah Wolf presented the staff report. Mayor McDonnell opened the public comment; receiving none, he closed the public comment. Motion to adopt Resolution No. 2024-020 N.C.S. made by Councilmember Healy, seconded by Councilmember Nau. Vote: Carried 7-0 Yes: Mayor McDonnell, Councilmember Barnacle, Vice Mayor Cader Thompson, Councilmember Healy, Councilmember Nau, Councilmember Pocekay, Councilmember Shribbs No: None Absent: None Recused: None WORKSHOP 7. Discussion of Cannabis Regulation Options City Attorney Eric Danly and Director Economic Development and Open Government Ingrid Alverde presented the staff report. Councilmembers asked questions of staff. Mayor McDonnell opened the public comment. Claire Firestone James Clark ceded his time to Claire Firestone Blake Hooper Jamie Reagan John Hanania Mayor McDonnell closed the public comment. ADJOURNMENT Mayor McDonnell adjourned the meeting at 9:50 p.m.