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Cotati councilmember Kathleen Rivers resigns effective immediately
Summary
Mayor Ford read a letter from Councilmember Kathleen Rivers at the start of a Jan. 21 special strategic planning meeting announcing her immediate resignation; the council said it will agendize how to fill the remainder of the term at a future meeting.
Mayor Ford opened a Jan. 21 special strategic planning meeting by reading a letter from Councilmember Kathleen Rivers in which Rivers said she was resigning from the Cotati City Council "effective immediately." The council continued the meeting with four seated members.
The move leaves the council with four members for the time being. Mayor Ford said the council will agendize a discussion about filling the remainder of Rivers’ term at a later meeting and that the council will have an opportunity to thank Rivers for her service in the near future.
Rivers’ letter, read aloud at the start of the meeting, said she was stepping down "due to personal and professional reasons" and expressed pride in accomplishments during her tenure, including work on an overlay to protect housing for Cotati seniors, Juneteenth and LGBTQ+ flag-raising ceremonies, and a city property purchase to secure affordable housing.
No formal action was taken at the Jan. 21 meeting to fill the vacancy. The council did not set a timeline that night for appointing or calling an election; Mayor Ford said that item will be placed on a future agenda for council consideration.
The letter and Rivers’ effective date were recorded on the meeting record; council members and staff said they intend to include the resignation and next steps on an upcoming agenda so the public can follow the process.
No votes or appointments related to the vacancy occurred at the meeting.
