City Council

City Council — April 15, 2024

This was a regular City Council and PCDSA meeting that ran until nearly midnight. The session included the swearing-in of a new Police Chief and substantive discussion on open space funding and a two-year city workplan.

Proclamations and Presentations

The Council recognized Sexual Assault Awareness Month, with leaders from Verity (a local victims' services organization) accepting the proclamation. Arbor Day was also recognized, with representatives from the Tree Advisory Committee and ReLeaf Petaluma in attendance. The meeting's most ceremonial highlight was the swearing-in of new Police Chief Brian Miller, administered by the City Clerk. Chief Miller addressed the Council and attendees.

Consent Calendar

Two routine items were passed together without discussion: the tentative agendas for upcoming Council meetings (April 29 and May 6) and the minutes from the April 8 meeting.

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

Ordinance Amending Municipal Code — Authority to Approve Public Works Plans (First Reading)

Assistant City Attorneys Jordan Green and Dylan Brady presented a proposed ordinance that would amend Chapter 3.04 of the Petaluma Municipal Code to give the Director of Public Works and Utilities the authority to approve plans, specifications, and designs for public works projects. This would be a new, concurrent authority — the City Council would retain its existing approval powers. The change is intended to streamline project delivery by allowing technical approvals to occur at the staff level without requiring every set of plans to come before the full Council. No public comment was received.

Vote: Carried 7–0 (first reading of Ordinance 2888 N.C.S.). Moved by Councilmember Healy, seconded by Councilmember Nau. A second reading will be required before the ordinance takes effect.

Helen Putnam Park Expansion — Open Space Acquisition Funding for Kelly Creek Protection Project

This was the most debated item of the evening. Special Projects Manager Heather Hines presented a resolution to allocate City open space acquisition funds to the Earth Island Institute / Kelly Creek Protection Project (KCPP) to support the expansion of Helen Putnam Regional Park. Jared Emerson Johnson (KCPP Project Director) and Greg Colvin (former Project Director) spoke in favor of the project. Three members of the public also spoke in support — Danielle Venton, Sherri Fabre Marcia, and Chris Cort — expressing enthusiasm for preserving open space and expanding park access.

Councilmember Pocekay recused himself from this item and left the chamber, leaving six voting members.

The Council broadly supported the project but disagreed on what financial assurances the City should require before releasing funds. Councilmember Healy proposed that the City only release funds once KCPP had achieved its full fundraising goal. That motion failed 2–4, with only Healy and Nau in support.

Councilmember Barnacle then proposed a narrower condition: that funds be released only after KCPP has secured its $1.8 million Sonoma County allocation and has actually acquired the property. This version passed 4–2, with Healy and Nau dissenting — apparently preferring the stricter full-funding requirement.

Vote (final motion): Carried 4–2. Moved by Councilmember Barnacle, seconded by Councilmember Cader Thompson. Recused: Councilmember Pocekay.

This resolution authorizes the City Manager to sign financing documents for the project, contingent on staff negotiating the agreed protections into the agreement.

Goals and Priorities Workplan for Fiscal Years 2024/25 and 2025/26

City Manager Peggy Flynn presented an updated two-year Goals and Priorities Workplan, with department directors presenting on individual goals. The Council asked questions throughout. Public comment was taken in segments organized around groups of five priorities. Members of the public who spoke included John Hanania, Steven DeLue, Nickola Frye, Susan Kirks, and Duane Bellinger, raising various concerns and priorities. The minutes do not detail the specific goals or the nature of the public comments. No binding vote was taken; this was a direction-setting workshop item for the upcoming budget cycle.

Key Takeaways