MINUTES OF AUGUST 20, 2024
REGULAR MEETING
OF THE
CORTE MADERA TOWN COUNCIL
Meeting video available here.
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1. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL AND SALUTE TO THE FLAG
Mayor Beckman called the Meeting of the Town Council to order at the Town Council Chambers, 300 Tamalpais Drive, Corte Madera, CA on July 16, 2024 at 6:30PM.
Councilmembers Present: Mayor Beckman, Vice Mayor Ravasio, Councilmembers Casissa, Lee and Thomas
Councilmembers Absent: None
Staff Present: Town Manager Adam Wolff
Town Attorney Amy Ackerman
Assistant Town Manager Rebecca Vaughn
Public Works Director R.J. Suokko
Senior Civil Engineer Chris Good
Town Clerk/Assistant to the Town Manager Lorena Barrera
2. OPEN TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Beckman opened up the item for public comment.
Council received public comment from 2 individuals:
• Bob Bundy
• Charlie Kirschner
Mayor Beckman closed public comment and moved on to the next item.
3. PRESENTATIONS
3.A. Presentation by Steven Torrence, Director of Emergency Management for the County of Marin Office of Emergency Management
Mayor Beckman introduced County of Marin Office of Emergency Management Director Steve Torrence who provided a presentation to Council. Torrence answered questions from Council.
Mayor Beckman opened up the item for public comment.
Council received public comment from 2 individuals:
• Bob Bundy
• Pati Stoliar
Mayor Beckman closed public comment and thanked Director Torrence for the presentation.
4. CONSENT CALENDAR
August 20, 2024 Corte Madera Town Council Regular Meeting Minutes 2 Mayor Beckman asked if there were public comments or requests from the public for removal of items from the Consent Calendar.
Councilmember Casissa requested pulling item 4.H.
There were no public comments and there were no additional requests from members of public to pull items from the Consent Calendar.
Mayor Beckman closed public comment.
Vice Mayor Ravasio provided some comments specific to item 4.J.
Mayor Beckman called for a vote on the Consent Calendar.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Ravasio/Casissa) to approve Consent Calendar items 4.A. – 4.G., 4.I. – 4.M.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 5-0 in favor of the motion.
The approved Consent Calendar items consisted of the following:
4.A. Accept Accounts Payable Warrants for July, 2024
4.B. Accept the Quarterly Investment Report for the Period Ending June 30, 2024
4.C. Adopt Resolution No. 29/2024, Amending, Adopting and Promulgating a Conflict-ofInterest Code for the Town of Corte Madera and Sanitary District No. 2 of Marin County, a Subsidiary District to the Town of Corte Madera
4.D. Approve Designation of Vice Mayor Ravasio as the Town’s Voting Delegate for the General Assembly at League of California Cities Annual Conference
4.E. Waive the Interview Process and Appoint Madeleine Langeveld to the Sales Tax Citizens’ Oversight Committee to Fill the Remainder of the Vacant Term that Commenced July 1, 2023 and Expires June 30, 2025
4.F. Adopt Resolution No. 30/2024 Allowing Three Temporary Signs in the Public Right-ofWay from September 9, 2024 to October 7, 2024 Publicizing the Corte Madera Oktoberfest Scheduled for Saturday, October 5, 2024
4.G. Approve Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the County of Marin Office of Emergency Management (OEM) for Emergency Services Coordination, Prevention, Preparedness, Response, Recovery and Mitigation Efforts, for an Annual Cost of $7,500 ($22,500 over three-year term)
4.I. Receive Flores Builders, Landscape Division, Inc. 23/24 Contract Year
4.J. Authorize the Mayor to Sign a Letter Requesting that the District Attorney Address Consumer Fraud Involving Vehicles That Are Not E-bikes
4.K. Authorize the Public Works Director to Execute and Record the Notice of Completion for the Town Park Restroom Project, No. 22-004 and Release Retention to Public Restroom Company, Inc. in the Amount of $24,948.10
4.L. Approve Minutes of the June 18, 2024 Town Council Regular Meeting
4.M. Approve Minutes of the July 16, 2024 Town Council Regular Meeting Mayor Beckman returned to item 4.H.
4.H. Approve Response to Marin County Civil Grand Jury Report Dated May 31, 2024: Sea Level Rise: The Water Is Upon Us. We Cannot Run - We Cannot Hide (response required by 9/2/24)
Councilmember Casissa stated that the letter that was included in the staff report said that Council had discussed the item and he asked for clarification on that as the item was on consent and a discussion was not held. Town Manager Wolff responded and said Council can have a discussion on the item if that was desired.
Mayor Beckman added that if the item is one where the Mayor and Town Manager feel there’s no new policy being and Council is just required to provide a response then that is why staff felt comfortable to place the item on consent. Council did not think there was a need to discuss the August 20, 2024 Corte Madera Town Council Regular Meeting Minutes 3 item. (Note that while Council had this conversation, staff shared the letter on screen with the public and confirmed that the word “discussed” was not in the letter and therefore, no amendments would need to be made. Staff showed this information to Councilmember to confirm.) Mayor Beckman opened up the item for public comment.
No public comments were received from attendees or via email on this item.
Mayor Beckman closed public comment and called for a motion.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Casissa/Ravasio) to approve Consent Calendar item 4.H.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 5-0 in favor of the motion.
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS
5.A. First Reading and Possible Introduction of an Ordinance Amending Title 9 (Public Conduct) of the Corte Madera Municipal Code by Amending Chapter 9.28 – “Conduct On Public Property” – and by Adopting a New Chapter 9.30 – “Conduct In Public Parks and Recreation Facilities” Regulating the Use of Corte Madera’s Parks and Recreation Facilities
Assistant Town Manager Rebecca Vaughn introduced the item and presented the staff report to Council. Town Attorney Amy Ackerman assisted Vaughn in answering questions from Council.
Mayor Beckman opened up the item for public comment.
Council received public comment from 1 individual:
• Charlie Kirschner
Mayor Beckman closed public comment. After further deliberation, Mayor Beckman called for a motion.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Thomas/Lee) to introduce the proposed ordinance.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 5-0 in favor of the motion.
6. BUSINESS ITEMS:
6.A. Review Draft Storm Drain Master Plan, Provide Comments, and Give Direction to Staff on Possible Adoption of the Plan at the Next Council Meeting Public Works Director R.J. Suokko introduced the item and began the presentation. He turned the item over to Senior Civil Engineer Chris Good who introduced Senior Project Manager Robin Lee of Schaaf and Wheeler. Lee continued the presentation and with the assistance of Suokko and Good, answered questions from Council.
Mayor Beckman opened up the item for public comment.
Council received public comment from 5 individuals:
• Sally Aaron
• Sherwood Cummins
• Roberto
• Kenton Wolfers
• Bob Bundy
Mayor Beckman closed public comment. After further deliberation, Council gave support of the plan. Staff would be bringing back the plan at a future meeting and include some changes based on the discussion held.
6.B. Consideration and Possible Authorization to the Director of Public Works to Award a Construction Contract for the Casa Buena Complete Streets Project, Project No. 15-021, to the Lowest Responsive and Responsible Bidder, Ghilotti Construction Company, Inc., for the Base Bid Amount of $2,740,610 and Authorize a 10% Construction Contingency of $274,061
August 20, 2024 Corte Madera Town Council Regular Meeting Minutes 4 Public Works Director R.J. Suokko introduced the item. He gave a short presentation and answered questions from Council.
Mayor Beckman opened up the item for public comment.
Council received public comment from 1 individual:
• Charlie Kirschner
Mayor Beckman closed public comment. After further deliberation, Mayor Beckman called for a motion.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Thomas/Lee) to approve the item as requested ROLL CALL VOTE: 5-0 in favor of the motion.
6.C. Consideration and Possible Adoption of Town Hall Council Chambers and Plaza Use Policy
Assistant Town Manager Rebecca Vaughn introduced the item and presented the staff report to Council. Town Attorney Amy Ackerman assisted Vaughn in answering questions from Council.
Upon reaching the hour of 9:30PM, Mayor Beckman called for a motion to extend the meeting.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Thomas/Casissa) to extend the meeting to 10:00PM.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 5-0 in favor of the motion.
Questions from council continued.
Mayor Beckman opened up the item for public comment.
Council received public comment from 1 individual:
• Charlie Kirschner
Mayor Beckman closed public comment. After further deliberation, Mayor Beckman called for a motion.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Ravasio/Casissa) to adopt the Council Chambers and Plaza Use Policy ROLL CALL VOTE: 5-0 in favor of the motion.
Mayor Beckman moved on to the next items and announced that discussion would be combined as they were all related to employee salary and benefit changes.
6.D. Consideration and Possible Adoption of Resolution No. 31/2024 Fixing Compensation and Establishing Certain Benefits for Department Head Employees of the Town of Corte Madera Commencing July 8, 2024 and Ending July 4, 2027
6.E. Consideration and Possible Adoption of Resolution No. 32/2024 Fixing Compensation and Establishing Certain Benefits for Confidential, Professional, Technical and MidManagement Employees Commencing July 8, 2024 and Ending July 4, 2027
6.F. Consideration and Possible Adoption of Resolution No. 33/2024 Approving the Memorandum of Understanding Between the Town of Corte Madera and SEIU 1021 (Service Employees International Union) Employees of the Town of Corte Madera Commencing July 1, 2024 and Ending June 30, 2027
Town Manager Adam Wolff introduced the items and went over details on each one separately.
Town Manager Adam Wolff, answered questions from Council on all three items.
Mayor Beckman opened up the items for public comment.
Council received public comment from 1 individual:
• Charlie Kirschner
Mayor Beckman closed public comment. After further deliberation, Mayor Beckman called for a motion.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Casissa/Ravasio) to adopt Resolution Nos. 31/2024, 32/2024 and 33/2024.
August 20, 2024 Corte Madera Town Council Regular Meeting Minutes 5 ROLL CALL VOTE: 5-0 in favor of the motion.
7. TOWN MANAGER AND COUNCIL REPORTS
Town Manager: Town Manager Adam Wolff provided a brief update on short-term rentals and the Reusable Foodware Ordinance. He also provided an update on parklets, the Town Skate Park and pickleball courts.
Town Council Reports:
Mayor Beckman: He provided a brief update from the Central Marin Sanitation Agency (CMSA) and attended the League of California Cities meeting where they received an update from the Bay Area Financial Officers Group.
Vice Mayor Ravasio: She attended MCE, announced that Oktoberfest will be held on October 5th.
Councilmember Casissa: He provided a brief update from a meeting with Urban Vision Alliance, announced that the Age-Friendly Centenarians event will be on August 25th. He attended the Ross Valley Paramedic Authority (RVPA) meeting, Marin County Council of Mayors and Councilmembers (MCCMC) Age-Friendly Board meeting, Marin Transit meeting, and the Central Marin Police and Fire Council meetings.
Councilmember Lee: No report was provided.
Councilmember Thomas: She attended the Central Marin Fire Council meeting and the Flood Control Board meeting.
8. DISCUSSION OF DRAFT AGENDA FOR UPCOMING TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
8.A. Review of Draft Agenda for Tuesday, September 17, 2024 Town Council Meeting There were no comments from Council regarding the draft agenda, and no public comment was received from attendees or via email.
9. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Beckman adjourned the meeting at 9:53PM to the next Town Council Meeting on Tuesday, September 17, 2024.