MINUTES OF APRIL 5, 2022
REGULAR MEETING
OF THE
CORTE MADERA TOWN COUNCIL
VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE ONLY
Meeting video available here.
NOTICE TO PUBLIC:
Pursuant to Government code section 54953(e), and in light of the declared state of emergency, this Town Council meeting will be conducted telephonically through Zoom. Please be advised that pursuant to Government Code section 54953(e), and in light of the declared state of emergency, and to ensure the health and safety of the public by limiting human contact that could spread the COVID-19 virus, the Council chambers will not be open for the meeting. Councilmembers and the public will be participating telephonically, during the duration of the COVID emergency.
Members of the public may view and participate in the meeting remotely through the following link:
https://tinyurl.com/y7aw8ubu
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Mayor Casissa called the Regular Meeting of the Town Council to order at Town Hall Council Chambers, 240 Tamal Vista Blvd., Ste. 108, Corte Madera, CA on April 5, 2022 at 6:31pm.
Councilmembers Present: Mayor Casissa; Councilmembers Beckman, Lee, Mongan, Ravasio Councilmembers Absent: None
Staff Present: Town Manager Todd Cusimano
Town Clerk/Assistant Town Manager Rebecca Vaughn
Town Attorney Amy Ackerman
Planning and Building Director Adam Wolff
Senior Planner Martha Battaglia
Building Official Chris Ragland
1. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL AND SALUTE TO THE FLAG
1.A. Mayor’s Statement on Ukraine
Mayor Casissa read a statement addressing the current war situation in Ukraine.
2. OPEN TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Casissa opened up the item for public comment.
Council received public comment from 4 individuals:
Patrick Duggan (via email)
Melissa Duggan
Alison Jones
Justin Nunes
Mayor Casissa closed public comment.
3. PRESENTATIONS: None
4. CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Casissa asked if there were public comments or requests from the public for removal of items from the Consent Calendar.
April 5, 2022 Corte Madera Town Council Regular Meeting Minutes 2 There were no requests from Councilmembers, staff or members of public to pull items from the Consent Calendar, and no public comment was received from attendees or via email.
Mayor Casissa then called for a vote on the Consent Calendar.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Lee/Ravasio) to approve Consent Calendar items 4A – 4F.
Roll call vote: 5-0 in favor of the motion.
The approved Consent Calendar items consisted of the following:
4.A. Waive Further Reading and Authorize Introduction and/or Adoption of Resolutions and Ordinances by Title Only
(Standard procedural action – no backup information provided)
4.B. Adopt Resolution No. 21/2022 Authorizing Remote Teleconference Meetings Of The Legislative Bodies Of The Town Of Corte Madera Pursuant To Government Code section 54953(e) of the Brown Act.
4.C. Adopt Resolution No. 22/2022 Allowing Three Temporary Signs in the Public Rightof-Way from April 6, 2022 to April 25, 2022 Publicizing “Ride and Drive Clean” to Coincide with Earth Day
4.D. Approve A Letter Of Support For Assembly Bill 2282 (Bauer-Kahan) Hate Crimes:
Nooses, Crosses, And Swastikas Which Aligns The Penalties For Using Terror Symbols And Expands The Locations Where They Are Illegal To Help Ensure That Individuals Who Spread Terror Are Punished To The Proper Extent Of The Law, Regardless Of Symbol, And Authorize Mayor To Sign The Letter
4.E. Authorize the Public Works Director to Execute and Record the Notice of Completion for the Paradise Drive Sidewalk Widening Project – San Clemente Drive to Seawolf Passage, #15-007 and Release Retention to Team Ghilotti Inc. in the amount of $42,491.85
4.F. Approve Minutes of the March 15, 2022 Regular Town Council Meeting Mayor Casissa moved Item 6.A. ahead of item 5.A.
6. BUSINESS ITEMS
6.A. Authorize the Director of Public Works to Award a Construction Contract to the Lowest Responsible Bidder, Alten Construction, Inc., from Richmond, CA, for the Base Bid of $10,485,000 and the Additive Bid of $335,000, for a Total Amount of $10,820,000; Authorize an Additional 10% Contingency for the Corte Madera Town Hall Project - No. 17-020; and Authorize the Director of Public Works to Execute Contracts with Kappe Architects for Architectural and Engineering Services in Construction and Mack 5 for Construction Management for Not to Exceed Amounts of $95,000 and $475,000, Respectively
Public Works Director RJ Suokko introduced the item, and with the assistance of Town Manager Cusimano, presented the staff report and answered questions from Council. Suokko also explained the late correspondence that was received from Holly Construction regarding the public bid opening and protesting the awarding of the project to Alten Construction.
Mayor Casissa opened up the item for public comment.
No public comments were received from attendees or via email on this item.
Mayor Casissa closed public comment. Following further deliberation, Mayor Casissa confirmed the necessary actions that needed to be made on this item with Town Attorney Amy Ackerman.
He then called for the required motions.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Ravasio/Lee) to reject the bid protest submitted by Holly Construction.
Roll call vote: 5-0 in favor of the motion.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Ravasio/Lee) to authorize the Public Works Director to award the construction project to Alten Construction, Inc. and to execute contracts with Kappe Architects and Mack 5 Construction Management.
April 5, 2022 Corte Madera Town Council Regular Meeting Minutes 3 Roll call vote: 5-0 in favor of the motion.
Bob Alten, owner of Alten Construction, was virtually present in the audience and asked to address the Council. He was given permission to speak and he thanked the Town for the opportunity to receive this project.
Mayor Casissa returned to item 5.A. and then continued with the remaining items on the agenda.
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS
5.A. Appeal of Planning Commission Decision regarding Permit Amendment Application PL21-0084, requesting modification of a previously approved Design Review application at 78 Granada Drive.
The Planning Commission approved 10 of 11 modifications requested by the owners of 78 Granada Drive. There are two appeals.
Appellant 1 (Marc & Christine Stolman of 82 Granada Drive) requests reversal of the Planning Commission’s Decision approving the ten modifications.
Appellant 2 (Chad & Sarah Gerber of 78 Granada Drive) requests reversal of the Planning Commission’s Decision denying one modification, the addition of the upper level bay window
Planning Director Adam Wolff introduced the item, and Senior Planner Martha Battaglia presented the staff report and answered questions from Council.
Mayor Casissa asked Councilmembers to report any ex-parte communications or site visits.
Council followed the order of proceedings and time limits. Staff report and Council questions for staff
Open public portion of the hearing
Presentation by appellant 1 (10 minutes)
Presentation by appellant 2 (10 minutes)
Council questions for appellant 1, appellant 2 and/or staff Public comment
Rebuttal by appellant 2 (5 minutes)
Rebuttal by appellant 1 (5 minutes)
Final Council questions of appellants 1 and 2
Final Council questions of staff
Close public portion of hearing
Council discussions, deliberation and findings and motion(s) For the public comment portion of the proceeding, Council received public comment from 2 individuals:
Phyllis Metcalfe
Steve Stein
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Casissa/Ravasio) to deny Appeal Application PL22-0018 filed by Marc Stolman & Christine Martin Stolman.
Roll call vote: 5-0 in favor of the motion.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Casissa/Ravasio) to deny Appeal Application PL22-0022 filed by Chad and Sarah Gerber
Roll call vote: 4-1 (Mongan voted No) in favor of the motion.
6. BUSINESS ITEMS
April 5, 2022 Corte Madera Town Council Regular Meeting Minutes 4
6.B. Update to Town Council Regarding the Retiree Health Care Plan, also known as Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB), June 30, 2021 Actuarial Valuation Plan Funding for 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 prepared by Bartel Associates Town Manager Town Cusimano introduced the item, presented the staff report and answered questions from Council.
Mayor Casissa opened up the item for public comment.
No public comments were received from attendees or via email on this item.
Mayor Casissa closed public comment. Following further deliberation, Mayor Casissa called for a motion.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Beckman/Lee) to accept the OPEB Report.
Roll call vote: 5-0 in favor of the motion.
6.C. Second Reading And Possible Adoption Of Resolution No. 24/2022 To (1) Create A New Position Classification and Job Description Titled Building Inspector/Plans Examiner, With A Salary Range Of $7,233 To $8,793 Per Month; And (2) Amend Compensation Schedule C – Confidential, Professional, Technical and MidManagement Employees, To Add The New Position And Salary Range for Building Inspector/Plans Examiner
(This is a two meeting item per Council Policy, and was first heard at the March 15, 2022 Town Council meeting)
Town Building Official Chris Ragland introduced the item, and with the assistance of Town Manager Cusimano, presented the staff report and answered questions from Council.
Mayor Casissa opened up the item for public comment.
No public comments were received from attendees or via email on this item.
Mayor Casissa closed public comment. Following further deliberation, Mayor Casissa called for a motion.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Beckman/Ravasio) to adopt Resolution No. 24/2022.
Roll call vote: 5-0 in favor of the motion.
7. TOWN MANAGER AND COUNCIL REPORTS
Town Manager Report:
Town Manager Cusimano reported that the next Council meeting will be a hybrid model. He also reported that the Finance Director is working on the next budget that will be presented in June.
Town Council Reports:
Mayor Casissa: He attended the Twin Cities Disaster Preparedness Committee Meeting and the Age-Friendly Corte Madera meeting. He also announced that September 18th will be the day seniors are honored by Age-Friendly Corte Madera.
Vice Mayor Lee: He announced that the Twin Cities Little League has installed a camera at the Joe Wagner Field so that the public can watch the games and begin creating a culture around youth sports.
Councilmember Beckman: He visited the new pedestrian overcrossing by Larkspur Landing, attended the Marin County Council of Mayors and Councilmembers (MCCMC) Water Policy Committee and MMCCMC Legislative Committee meeting. He also attended the Climate Action Committee meeting, Central Marin Sanitation Agency (CMSA) Board Meeting and the League of California Cities North Bay Division Meeting.
April 5, 2022 Corte Madera Town Council Regular Meeting Minutes 5 Councilmember Mongan: She attended the meeting for the Casa Buena Working Group.
Councilmember Ravasio: He attended a Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA) meeting.
8. DISCUSSION OF DRAFT AGENDA FOR UPCOMING TOWN COUNCIL MEETING There were no comments from the public or Council regarding the draft agenda of the April 19, 2022 Town Council meeting.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:05pm to the next regular Town Council Meeting on Tuesday, April 19, 2022.