City Council

MAYOR
ROBERT COLEMAN-SENGHOR

Robert Coleman-Senghor, a 68 years resident of the Bay and North Bay area, has been a member of the Cotati-Rohnert Park community for over 37 years. He has served it in various capacities as Soccer Coach, PTA member, Professor of California Cultural Studies at Sonoma State University as well as a member of Cotati's Design Review Committee, Planning Commission and City Council on which he served as Vice Mayor in 2009 presently serves as Mayor. His top priorities are enhancing citizen participation in city governance, creating safe streets, growing low-cost housing for essential workers as well as for older, disabled and low-income citizens, and maintaining the fiscal vitality of Cotati.

Robert is committed to maintaining Cotati's small town character and envisions a bright future for Cotati based on new partnerships with Sonoma State University, festival tourism and new green retail and jobs intensive industries.

email: senghor1984@gmail.com
cell: 707-843-0388

COUNCILMEMBER
PAT GILARDI

Councilmember Pat Gilardi was appointed to Council in October 2000. She was elected to a full four-year term in November 2002 and re-elected in 2006. She served as Mayor in 2004 and 2008.

Councilmember Gilardi is a Director of the Sonoma County Transportation Authority (SCTA) and Regional Climate Protection Authority (RCPA). The SCTA acts as the countywide planning and programming agency for transportation related issues: securing funds, project oversight and long term planning. The Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority was created by Assembly Bill 881 in 2009 at the request of Sonoma County elected officials seeking a coordinated approach to address the pressing issue of climate change. The RCPA is structured to improve communication and coordination on climate change issues and establish a clearinghouse for planning, funding and implementation efforts to reduce GHG emissions. Councilmember Gilardi served for several years on the Board of Directors of the Northbay Division of the League of California Cities, including one term as president. The division is comprised of all cities in Sonoma, Napa, Marin and Solano counties. The League of California Cities is an association of California city officials who work together to enhance their knowledge and skills, exchange information, and combine resources so that they may influence policy decisions that affect cities.

Councilmember Gilardi has lived in Cotati since 1984 and holds a long history of involvement in the community. She is the co-founder of Cotati 4-H and a former Executive Board Officer of Sonoma County 4-H, a former member of the Board of Directors of the non-profit Accordion Festival, a former two-term PTA president, former three-year member of the City's Planning Commission, and frequent volunteer at many community events.

Fiscal sustainability, strong environmental policy, transportation alternatives, and quality community services are Councilmember Gilardi's primary policy goals.

Councilmember Gilardi is an Advertising Sales Manager for a major daily newspaper. It is her results oriented work ethic and commitment to communication, education and innovation which make her successful in the newspaper industry. These same qualities provide her with the necessary tools to be an advocate for the citizens of Cotati. You can email Councilmember Gilardi at pgilardi@ci.cotati.ca.us

You can email Councilmember Gilardi at pgilardi@ci.cotati.ca.us

COUNCILMEMBER
SUSAN HARVEY

Councilmember Susan Harvey was elected to the City Council in November 2009. She served on the Planning Commission from November 2008 to November 2009.

Councilmember Harvey currently serves as Cotati's representative on the Sonoma County Landfill Task Force, Subregional Wastewater Policy Advisory Committee and Health Action. She serves as an alternative representative for the Russian River Watershed Association, Solar Sonoma County and Water Advisory Committee. Councilmember Harvey also serves as a liaison to the Chamber of Commerce and the Planning Commission.

A long-time volunteer, Councilmember Harvey has worked on behalf of community activities such as the Cotati Accordion Festival, the Jazz Festival, Oktoberfest and Cotati Historical Society.

Councilmember Harvey and her husband have lived in Cotati for 32 years, where they have raised their three children. Having lived 32 years in Cotati, Councilmember Harvey brings a deep knowledge and familiarity of the uniqueness of our community.

Councilmember Harvey brings over 30 years of management experience from a major local employer. Difficult budgets, painful decisions and working through differences of opinion are all common occurrences when working in such an environment. Councilmember Harvey brings skills in team work and consensus building for the betterment of the community and its long term sustainability.

Councilmember Harvey is devoting her energy to preserving community police, maintaining essential city services, recreational opportunities for our youth and seniors, fiscal responsibility, working to increase volunteerism, supporting policies that enhance existing business and attract new business.

Email: sharvey@ci.cotati.ca.us
Phone: 707-795-0637

COUNCILMEMBER
MARK LANDMAN

Councilmember Mark Landman was appointed to City Council in November 2009.

Mark Landman has lived in Cotati since 1987. In 2004 he retired from the Novato Fire District where he served the community as a firefighter, as one of the first paramedics in Marin County, and finally as a fire captain. Councilmember Landman's goal is to draw upon these experiences to help ensure Cotati has responsible financial planning and budgeting and also continues to provide an appropriate level of service to its citizens.

His long term objectives for Cotati include: growing a stronger and more diversified tax base while protecting our distinct small town character, preserving and enhancing our environment by advocating sustainable water and land use policies, and ultimately making the vision of our Downtown Specific Plan a reality.

Councilmember Landman serves as Cotati's representative on the Water Advisory Committee, where he is responsible for protecting the City's interests on issues relating to the Sonoma County Water Agency's water supply. Mark also serves as our City's representative to the Russian River Watershed Association and as alternate representative to the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), the Sonoma County Transportation Authority (SCTA), and the Subregional Wastewater Policy Advisory Committee.

In addition, Councilmember Landman acts as council liaison to both the Chamber of Commerce and the Design Review Committee, and is a founding board member of the Cotati Arts Project.

You can email Councilmember Landman at mlandman@ci.cotati.ca.us

VICE MAYOR
JANET ORCHARD

Vice Mayor Janet Orchard was first elected to the Council in November 2000. She was re-elected in 2004 and 2008. She served as Mayor in 2002 and 2006 and presently serves as Vice Mayor. Her current term ends November 2012.

Vice Mayor Orchard currently serves as Cotati's representative to the Association of Bay Area Governments General Assembly, and the City Selection Committee as well as the alternate legislative liaison for the Sonoma County Mayors' and Councilmembers' Association. In addition, she serves on the League of California Cities statewide Housing, Community and Economic Development Policy Committee and is Vice-Chair of the Citizens Advisory Committee of the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District. Councilmember Orchard also serves on several Council subcommittees, including the economic development subcommittee and has served on the energy subcommittee for the Cotati Police facility.

Vice Mayor Orchard has lived in Cotati since 1998. She is a strong advocate of community service. Prior to her election to Council she served as a volunteer on the City's Community and Environment Commission.

Councilmember Orchard has a career of nearly 30 years in the insurance industry. She is employed by Swett & Crawford as Vice President and senior underwriter in their long term care division, specializing in insurance for long term care facilities for the elderly.

Economic viability, environmental stewardship, improvement of community services and public safety are Councilmember Orchard's prime areas of focus. She is an advocate for open space preservation, green building policies, affordable housing and youth and recreation programs.

You can email Councilmember Orchard at jorchard@ci.cotati.ca.us