MINUTES OF JANUARY 21, 2025
REGULAR MEETING
OF THE
CORTE MADERA TOWN COUNCIL
Meeting video available at: https://youtu.be/ACj4Pyo1RP8?si=kmdzaUsCCRnre0I3 To access a guide on how to activate transcripts for the Town’s video recordings, visit https://www.cortemadera.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10133/How-to-Activate-and-Use-the-Transcript-Feature-onYouTube PUBLIC ATTENDANCE OPTIONS FOR THIS MEETING:
Members of the public had the option to attend the meeting in person, or view and participate in the meeting remotely through the following link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84104397707 Attendees could also call in using: 1 (408) 638-0968 (Zoom webinar ID: 841 0439 7707) Or iPhone one-tap: +14086380968,,84104397707#
Options for Submitting Public Comment for this meeting:
1. Emailing [email protected] prior to 5:00 PM on the day of the meeting,
2. Attending the meeting in-person at the Town Council Chambers, 300 Tamalpais Drive, Corte Madera
3. Selecting the “Raise Hand” icon in the Zoom meeting or dialing *9 if calling in to the meeting.
To download the complete agenda packet for this meeting, visit our archive center:
https://www.cortemadera.gov/archive.aspx
1. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL AND SALUTE TO THE FLAG
Mayor Ravasio called the Meeting of the Town Council to order at the Town Council Chambers, 300 Tamalpais Drive, Corte Madera, CA on January 21, 2025 at 6:30PM.
Councilmembers Present: Mayor Ravasio, Vice Mayor Thomas, Councilmembers Andrews, Beckman and Casissa
Councilmembers Absent: None
Staff Present: Town Manager Adam Wolff
Town Attorney Amy Ackerman
CMFA Fire Chief Ruben Martin
CMFA Battalion Chief Ezra Coleman
Assistant Town Manager Rebecca Vaughn
Finance Director Daria Carrillo
Parks and Recreation Director Tim Barry
Town Clerk/Assistant to the Town Manager Lorena Barrera
2. OPEN TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Ravasio opened up the item for public comment.
Council received public comment from 3 individuals:
• Bob Mittelstaedt
• Janet Moore
• Paula Fellows
Mayor Ravasio closed public comment and moved on to the next item.
3. PRESENTATIONS: None
4. CONSENT CALENDAR:
(Discussion begins at 7:28 / 2:05:33 https://youtu.be/3VqA4I_2lv8?si=drIvwChP-3jSq24b&t=448) Mayor Ravasio asked if there were public comments or requests from the public for removal of items from the Consent Calendar.
There were no public comments and there were no requests from members of the public to pull items from the Consent Calendar.
Mayor Ravasio closed public comment.
Councilmember Casissa asked to pull item 4.B. for questions.
January 21, 2025 Corte Madera Town Council Regular Meeting Minutes 2 Councilmember Andrews asked to pull the draft minutes, items 4.D. and 4.E.
Mayor Ravasio called for a vote on the remainder of the Consent Calendar.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Casissa/Beckman) to approve Consent Calendar items 4.A. and 4.C.
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 December 2024
4.C. Accept the Quarterly Investment Report for the Period Ending December 31, 2024 Mayor Ravasio returned to the items pulled from the Consent Calendar.
4.B. Accept Revenue and Expense Report for December 2024 (Discussion begins at 9:16 / 2:05:33 https://youtu.be/3VqA4I_2lv8?si=irOAtdxh3Eql0CZY&t=556) Councilmember Casissa had a concern regarding the expenses having increased by a million dollars in relation to salaries. Finance Director Daria Carrillo addressed his concerns stating that about half of that amount is for a required payment to CalPERS for unfunded liability which the Town did not have to make last year. She added that salaries have actually increased $247,000 compared to last year at that time and that had to do with a salary schedule increases which were 4% for most employees and 6% for SEIU and it also takes into account the fact that last year, the Building Official position was vacant until April and there was also a Senior Engineer position that was vacant until January. Additionally, the Town Manager served as both the Town Manager and the Community Development Director so those salaries were not paid at this time last year.
Carrillo continued with additional information.
Councilmember Casissa had some additional comments. No further discussion was held.
Mayor Ravasio called for a motion.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Casissa/Thomas) to approve Consent Calendar item 4.B.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 5-0 in favor of the motion.
Mayor Ravasio continued with Consent Calendar items 4.D. and 4.E.
4.D. Approve Minutes of the December 17, 2024 Town Council Special Meeting
4.E. Approve Minutes of the December 17, 2024 Town Council Regular (Discussion begins at 14:02 / 2:05:33 https://youtu.be/3VqA4I_2lv8?si=1Rj5o-T073HXCVFw&t=843) Councilmember Andrews stated his concern was with the lack of detail in the minutes. He added that when he came was on Council, Council was getting minutes that one could easily understand the gist of an argument for and against during the course of a meeting and in terms of finding things, one could quickly scan through old minutes and get an understanding but now, the minutes are abbreviated and he does not know what the substance of the argument is. He added some additional comments regarding his concerns.
Additional comments were provided by Council.
Town Manager Adam Wolff addressed some of the comments and concerns and Assistant town Manager Rebecca Vaughn provided some background regarding the transition from summary minutes to action minutes. Town Attorney Amy Ackerman provided a legal perspective on the purpose of minutes.
After further deliberation, Council requested that a discussion on the format of the minutes be held at the Strategic Planning Workshop scheduled for January 23, 2025.
Mayor Ravasio called for a motion.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Andrews/Casissa) to approve Consent Calendar items 4.D. and 4.E.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 5-0 in favor of the motion.
January 21, 2025 Corte Madera Town Council Regular Meeting Minutes 3
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None
6. BUSINESS ITEMS
6.A. Consideration and Possible Adoption of Resolution No. 01/2025 Approving a Revised Parks and Recreation Fee Schedule for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 (Discussion begins at 23:09 / 2:05:33 https://youtu.be/3VqA4I_2lv8?si=mw7BbTRVOYopWbhY&t=1389) Parks and Recreation Director Tim Barry introduced the item and presented the staff report. Barry responded to questions from Council.
Mayor Ravasio opened up the item for public comment.
Council received public comment from 1 individual:
• Jaime Heaps, Executive Director for the Larkspur-Corte Madera Schools Foundation, SPARK
Mayor Ravasio closed public comment. Following further deliberation, Ravasio called for a motion.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Casissa/Beckman) to adopt Resolution No. 01/2025.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 5-0 in favor of the motion.
6.B. Consideration and Possible Approval of the Proposed Corte Madera Parks and Recreation Parks Donation and Memorial Program
(Discussion begins at 37:40 / 2:05:33 https://youtu.be/3VqA4I_2lv8?si=c3E8RyUWMVKmZ6n3&t=2260) Parks and Recreation Director Tim Barry introduced the item and presented the staff report. Town Manager Adam Wolff assisted with the presentation of the item. Barry, Wolff and Town Attorney Amy Ackerman responded to questions from Council.
Mayor Ravasio opened up the item for public comment.
Council received public comment from 2 individuals:
• Cheryl Longinotti
• David MacPherson
Mayor Ravasio closed public comment. Following further deliberation, Ravasio called for a motion.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Beckman/Thomas) to approve the proposed Corte Madera Parks and Recreation Parks Donation and Memorial Program.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 5-0 in favor of the motion.
6.C. Consideration and Possible Adoption of 1.) Resolution No. 02/2025 Approving Revisions to the Fiscal Year 2024 - 2025 Budget and 2.) Resolution No. 03/2025 Approving the Amended Reserve Policy
(Discussion begins at 51:20 / 2:05:33 https://youtu.be/3VqA4I_2lv8?si=R4-fSLEkx6DibS4T&t=3080) Finance Director Daria Carrillo introduced the item and presented the staff report. Town Manager Adam Wolff and Central Marin Fire Authority Fire Chief Ruben Martin assisted with answering questions from Council.
Mayor Ravasio opened up the item for public comment.
No public comments were received from attendees or via email on this item.
Mayor Ravasio closed public comment. Following further deliberation, Ravasio called for a motion.
Due to a proposed amendment to Resolution No. 03/2025, two separate motions were taken on this item.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Andrews/Casissa) to adopt Resolution No. 02/2025.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 5-0 in favor of the motion.
January 21, 2025 Corte Madera Town Council Regular Meeting Minutes 4 MOTION: It was M/S/C (Beckman/Thomas) to adopt Resolution No. 03/2025 Approving the Amended Reserve Policy with minor language edits to the range increase as proposed by Councilmember Casissa.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 5-0 in favor of the motion.
6.D. Preview of Strategic Planning Workshop Scheduled for January 23, 2025 (Discussion begins at 1:33:37 / 2:05:33 https://youtu.be/3VqA4I_2lv8?si=csiyMMWu9BfwuwWT&t=5617) Town Manager Adam Wolff presented the item stating it was an opportunity for Council to bring up any questions or comments Council might have in relation to the material and the format for the workshop scheduled for Thursday. He also shared a few points regarding the effort made by staff to ensure that the work plan aligns with Council’s priorities. Wolff answered questions from council.
Mayor Ravasio opened up the item for public comment.
Council received public comment from 1 individual:
• Roy Wolford
Mayor Ravasio closed public comment and announced that no action was needed for this item.
7. TOWN MANAGER AND COUNCIL REPORTS
(Discussion begins at 1:46:33 / 2:05:33 https://youtu.be/3VqA4I_2lv8?si=UMI6SOkzF9r2Y1cy&t=6393) Town Manager: Town Manager Adam Wolff provided an update on the electric vehicle chargers that are being installed at Town Hall. He announced the compliance from Amy’s Drive Thru on the Reuseable Food Ordinance that was approved by Council. He also announced the upcoming community meeting regarding the proposed housing project at 240 Tamal Vista Blvd.
Fire Update: Fire Chief Ruben Martin introduced Battalion Chief Ezra Coleman who provided an update on the assistance CMFA provided in the wildfires that burned through Los Angeles.
Town Council Reports:
Mayor Ravasio: She attended the Age-Friendly ad Hoc Committee meeting, met with Julie Kritzberger of the Corte Madera Chamber of Commerce, met with Supervisor Dennis Rodoni and announced that new volunteers are needed on the Beautification Committee.
Vice Mayor Thomas: She met with Julie Kritzberger of the Corte Madera Chamber of Commerce.
Councilmember Andrews: He attended the Marin Wildfire Board meeting, and listened to the video recording for the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee meeting.
Councilmember Beckman: He attended the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) train opening in Petaluma, Central Marin Sanitation Agency (CMSA) meeting, met with Julie Kritzberger of the Corte Madera Chamber of Commerce, attended a ceremony for the Oath of Office for newly elected Supervisor Colbert and participated in the Martin Luther King Jr. celebration in Marin City.
Councilmember Casissa: He attended the Age-Friendly Corte Madera meeting, Marin Transit meeting, Marin Wildfire meeting and Age-Friendly ad Hoc Committee meeting.
8. DISCUSSION OF DRAFT AGENDA FOR UPCOMING TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
8.A. Review of Draft Agenda for Tuesday, February 4, 2025 Town Council Meeting Councilmember Thomas asked if a discussion on the changes to the drafting of the meeting minutes will be held at the February 4th meeting. Town Manager Adam Wolff stated a discussion will be held at the Strategic Planning Workshop.
There were no additional comments from Council regarding the draft agenda, and no public comment was received from attendees or via email.
9. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Ravasio adjourned the meeting at 8:35PM to the next Town Council Meeting on Tuesday, February 4, 2025.