MINUTES OF MAY 6, 2025
REGULAR MEETING
OF THE
CORTE MADERA TOWN COUNCIL
Meeting video available at: https://youtu.be/hBQXrCsvgjQ?si=JlwMdCXlvewCDGji 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 May 6, 2025 at 6:33PM.
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
Assistant Town Manager Rebecca Vaughn
Community Development Director Amy Lyle
Associate Planner Tracy Hegarty
Climate Action and Adaptation Coordinator Phoebe Goulden Fire Inspector/Investigator Chris Geul
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 1 individual:
• Margaret Bandel
Mayor Ravasio closed public comment and moved on to the next item.
3. PRESENTATIONS
(Discussion begins at 5:41 / 2:02:30 https://youtu.be/hBQXrCsvgjQ?si=TgxtEgInWnnW7Xw2&t=341)
3.A. Presentation by Chris Logan, County of Marin, on Rooted in Marin’s Anti-Displacement Report
Community Development Director Amy Lyle introduced Chris Logan who introduced the item and provided a presentation to Council. He responded to 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, thanked Chris Logan for the presentation and moved on to the next item.
May 6, 2025 Corte Madera Town Council Regular Meeting Minutes 2
4. CONSENT CALENDAR:
(Discussion begins at 35:28 / 2:02:30 https://youtu.be/hBQXrCsvgjQ?si=5P3v1EAkwyNAEWic&t=2128) Mayor Ravasio asked if there were public comments or requests from the public for removal of items from the Consent Calendar.
There were no requests from members of the public to pull items from the Consent Calendar and no public comments were received.
Mayor Ravasio closed public comment.
Mayor Ravasio asked if there were requests from Council or staff for removal of items from the Consent Calendar.
Vice Mayor Thomas requested to pull item 4.E. No additional requests were received.
Mayor Ravasio called for a motion on all consent items excluding 4.E.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Casissa/Beckman) to approve Consent Calendar items 4.A. through
4.D., 4.F. and 4.G.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 5-0 in favor of the motion.
The approved Consent Calendar items consisted of the following:
4.A. Adopt a Proclamation Declaring the First Friday in June, June 6, 2025, to be National Gun Violence Awareness Day
4.B. Authorize the Director of Public Works to Execute and Record the Notice of Completion for the Echo Avenue Connector Path, #21-013, and Release Retention to FJ & I Engineering, Inc. in the Amount of $8,032.50
4.C. Adopt Resolution No. 17/2025 Approving Request to Display the Rainbow LGBTQ+ Pride Flag at Town Hall for the Month of June, 2025 in Recognition of LGBTQ+ Pride Mont
4.D. Adopt Resolution No. 18/2025 Allowing Two Temporary Signs in the Public Right-of-Way from May 9, 2025 to June 9, 2025 Publicizing the Larkspur Chamber’s “Battle of the Dad Bands” Event Scheduled for June 7, 2025
4.F. Approve Minutes of the April 1, 2025 Town Council Regular Meeting
4.G. Approve Minutes of the April 15, 2025 Town Council Regular Meeting Mayor Ravasio returned to item 4.E.
4.E. Authorize the Town Manager to Enter into an Agreement with JMSB Strategies, LLC to Provide Professional Services in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $15,000, to Provide a Facilitated Performance Evaluation Process for the Town Manager (Discussion begins at 36:59 / 2:02:30 https://youtu.be/hBQXrCsvgjQ?si=gUccrYwgcPZjaplF&t=2219) Vice Mayor Thomas stated that after reviewing the desires and needs of the Town Manager, the request to remove the item so that it is not approved. Thomas moved to deny the amount of $15,000 for a facilitated performance evaluation process. Councilmember Beckman seconded the motion. Councilmember Andrews recommended Council move to table the item instead. Town Attorney Amy Ackerman explained the options available to Council. After further deliberation, Vice Mayor Thomas accepted the suggestion.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Thomas/Beckman) to table item 4.E.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 5-0 in favor of the motion.
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS
5.A. First Reading and Possible Introduction of an Ordinance Adding Section 15.02.035 to Chapter 15.02 – Fire Code – to Designate a Moderate Fire Hazard Severity Zone in Corte Madera
(Discussion begins at 40:46 / 2:02:30 https://youtu.be/hBQXrCsvgjQ?si=HwHzYNllZPC-bFLt&t=2446) Town Manager Adam Wolff introduced Fire Inspector/Investigator Chris Geul of Central Marin Fire Authority. Wolff presented the staff report. Chris Geul contributed to the presentation of the item. Town Attorney Amy Ackerman assisted Wolff and Geul with responding to questions from Council.
May 6, 2025 Corte Madera Town Council Regular Meeting Minutes 3 Mayor Ravasio opened up the item for public comment.
Council received public comment from 1 individual:
• Peter Chase
Mayor Ravasio closed public comment. Following further discussion, Mayor Ravasio called for a motion.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Casissa/Andrews) to introduce the ordinance as presented.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 5-0 in favor of the motion.
6. BUSINESS ITEMS
6.A. Discussion and Possible Adoption of Resolution No. 19/2025 Rescinding Resolution No. 814 and Adopting an Updated List of Trees Recommended for Street Tree Planting (Discussion begins at 58:05 / 2:02:30 https://youtu.be/hBQXrCsvgjQ?si=1DTKo0oHUXeM16t5&t=3485) Climate Action and Adaptation Coordinator Phoebe Goulden introduced the item along with Kent Julin of Arborscience, LLC., the Town’s consulting arborist. She along with Associate Planner Tracy Hegarty provided a presentation to Council. With the assistance of Fire Inspector/Investigator Chris Geul and Kent Julin, Goulden and Hegarty responded to 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 discussion, Mayor Ravasio called for a motion.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Thomas/Beckman) to adopt Resolution No. 19/2025.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 5-0 in favor of the motion.
6.B. Consideration and Possible Action to Authorize the Town Manager to 1.) Accept a Donation of $250,000.00 from Age-Friendly Corte Madera for Operational Support of the Corte Madera Intergenerational Center and 2.) Enter into a Donation Agreement with Age-Friendly Corte Madera for Use of Those Funds Over a Period of Five Years (Discussion begins at 1:29:44 / 2:02:30 https://youtu.be/hBQXrCsvgjQ?si=ucF5hVyAW9HG-XJf&t=5384) Town Manager Adam Wolff presented the staff report. He and Town Attorney Amy Ackerman went over the item and with the assistance of Pati Stoliar, Wolff and Ackerman responded to 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 discussion, Mayor Ravasio called for a motion.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Andrews/Thomas) to approve the item as requested.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 5-0 in favor of the motion.
7. TOWN MANAGER AND COUNCIL REPORTS
(Discussion begins at 1:39:46 / 2:02:30 https://youtu.be/hBQXrCsvgjQ?si=2ix3o2r3PMi6Vau6&t=5986 Town Manager: Town Manager Adam Wolff provided an update on the swim program, announced some changes taking place with the metering lights on the northbound side of highway 101 near Macy’s. Wolff also announced that the commuter hours on highway 101 will be changing in the summer. Lastly, he announced that on Wednesday, May 14th, Council will be meeting regarding the appeal that was submitted in relation to the proposed project on 240 Tamal Vista Blvd., and that a workshop for the Lower Christmas Tree Hill Undergrounding Project will be held the same day at the same time.
Town Council Reports:
May 6, 2025 Corte Madera Town Council Regular Meeting Minutes 4 Mayor Ravasio: She recognized Assistant Town Manager Rebecca Vaughn for her work in putting events together for the Town including the Volunteer Fair held at the Community Center and the Marin County Council of Mayors and Councilmembers (MCCMC) event held at Town Hall. She also thanked the Chamber of Commerce for putting on the State of the Town event.
Vice Mayor Thomas: She attended the Volunteer Fair, State of the Town, a “Meet Your Mayor” gathering at the County, the MCCMC event and the Ross Valley Paramedic Authority (RVPA) meeting.
Councilmember Andrews: He attended the Volunteer Fair, State of the Town, the MCCMC event and a Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) meeting.
Councilmember Beckman: He attended the Zonda Meats ribbon cutting, Central Marin Sanitation Agency (CMSA) ad Hoc meeting, MCE Board meeting, Volunteer Fair, the State of the Town, a CalCities Leaders Summit, the CalCCA Conference in Irvine, the MCCMC event, and a Central Marin Sanitation Agency (CMSA) Finance Committee meeting.
Councilmember Casissa: He attended the MCCMC event, RVPA meeting, Touch Trucks event and Age-Friendly Intergenerational Center ad Hoc Committee meeting.
8. DISCUSSION OF DRAFT AGENDA FOR UPCOMING TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
8.A. Review of Draft Agenda for Tuesday, May 20, 2025 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 Ravasio adjourned the meeting at 8:33PM in memory of the four teens from Archie WIlliams High School to the next Town Council Meeting on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.