MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 2, 2025
REGULAR MEETING
OF THE
CORTE MADERA TOWN COUNCIL
Meeting video available at: https://youtu.be/rLvTdNNOX64?si=b6551yHAIMM00BL4 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 September 2, 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
Assistant Town Manager Rebecca Vaughn
Community Development Director Amy Lyle
Interim Director of Public Works Chris Good
Finance Director Chris Petlock
Principal Planner Martha Battaglia
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:
• Don Wilberg
Mayor Ravasio closed public comment and moved on to the next item.
3. PRESENTATIONS:
3.A. Presentation from Larkspur/Corte Madera School District (LCMSD) Staff Regarding Campus Fencing for Neil Cummins Elementary (Corte Madera), The Cove School (Corte Madera) and Hall Middle School (Larkspur)
(Discussion begins at 4:45 / 1:57:00 https://youtu.be/rLvTdNNOX64?si=oyn8xDHb_AMMvfjR&t=285) Vice Mayor Thomas recused herself from the discussion of the item to to her employment with the school district and due to living in close proximity to one of the school campuses.
Councilmember Andrews recused himself due to living in close proximity to one of the school campuses.
Council received a presentation regarding the campus fencing from Dr. Brett Geithman, Superintendent of the Larkspur-Corte Madera School District (LCMSD) and from Dr. Megan Atkins, LCMSD Business Official. Geithman and Atkins responded to questions from Council.
September 2, 2025 Corte Madera Town Council Regular Meeting Minutes 2 Mayor Ravasio opened up the item for public comment.
Council received public comment from 1 individual:
• Pati Stoliar
Mayor Ravasio closed public comment. Council provided comments to Geithman and Atkins and thanked them for their presentation.
Vice Mayor Thomas and Councilmember Andrews returned to the dais for the remainder of the meeting.
4. CONSENT CALENDAR:
(Discussion begins at 26:16 / 1:57:00 https://youtu.be/rLvTdNNOX64?si=104tYQDFuvsrqaie&t=1576) Mayor Ravasio asked if there were requests from Council or staff for removal of items from the Consent Calendar. There were no requests from Council to pull items from the Consent Calendar.
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 called for a motion on the consent calendar.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Casissa/Beckman) to approve Consent Calendar items 4.A. through
4.B.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 5-0 in favor of the motion.
The approved Consent Calendar items consisted of the following:
4.A. Adopt Resolution No. 35/2025 Allowing Four Temporary Signs in the Public Right-ofWay from September 26, 2025 to October 14, 2025 Publicizing the Corte Madera Oktoberfest Scheduled for Saturday, October 11, 2025
4.B. Approve Response to Marin County Civil Grand Jury Report Dated June 24, 2025: The Worrisome Future of Marin Housing (Response due by September 22, 2025)
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None
6. BUSINESS ITEMS:
6.A. Consideration and Possible Action to Adopt Resolution No. 36/2025 Making the Required Findings to Implement the Council’s Decision on August 5, 2025 to Grant the Appeal from the Planning Commission’s decision and Deny Design Review Application PL24-0048 and Variance Application PL25-0016 for a Second Driveway at 800 Corte Madera Avenue
(Discussion begins at 28:34 / 1:57:00 https://youtu.be/rLvTdNNOX64?si=jyU_7M4sUo-TWo9X&t=1714) Principal Planner Martha Battaglia presented the item to Council. With the assistance of Community Development Director Amy Lyle, Town Manager Adam Wolff and Town Attorney Amy Ackerman, Battaglia responded to questions from Council.
Mayor Ravasio opened up the item for public comment.
Council received public comment after publication of the agenda. Those comments can be found on the Town’s website: www.cortemadera.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/6325 From attendees in person and on Zoom during the meeting, Council received 12 comments.
Mayor Ravasio closed public comment. Following further deliberation, Mayor Ravasio called for a motion.
September 2, 2025 Corte Madera Town Council Regular Meeting Minutes 3 MOTION: It was M/S/C (Beckman/Andrews) to adopt Resolution No. 36/2025.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 3-2 (Casissa and Thomas opposed) in favor of the motion.
6.B. Consideration and Possible Action to Authorize the Interim Public Works Director to Execute a Contract for Engineering, Environmental, Right of Way, and Utility Coordination Services for the Shorebird Marsh Pump Station Replacement Project, No. 25-304 with Schaaf & Wheeler Consulting Civil Engineers for a Not-to-Exceed Amount of $934,599
(Discussion begins at 1:03:05 / 1:57:00 https://youtu.be/rLvTdNNOX64?si=4_FQVot7iG3A-v7p&t=3780) Interim Public Works Director Chris Good introduced the item and provided a presentation to Council. Town Manager Adam Wolff assisted Good with responding 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 deliberation, Mayor Ravasio called for a motion.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Casissa/Thomas) to approve the item as requested.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 5-0 in favor of the motion.
6.C. Receive and Discuss the Mid-Year Report on the Status of the 2025 Staff Work Plan (Item continued from August 5, 2025 Council meeting)
(Discussion begins at 1:23:23 / 1:57:00 https://youtu.be/rLvTdNNOX64?si=jaT2vK9MFoVfipzT&t=5003) Town Manager Adam Wolff presented the item and 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. No action was required on this item.
6.D. Consideration and Possible Action to Adopt Resolution No. 37/2025 Approving a Salary Increase for the Town Manager
(Discussion begins at 1:35:28 / 1:57:00 https://youtu.be/rLvTdNNOX64?si=txQ34AfEpoxDPPzU&t=5728) Town Attorney Amy Ackerman presented the item and 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 deliberation, Mayor Ravasio called for a motion.
MOTION: It was M/S/C (Beckman/Thomas) to adopt Resolution No. 37/2025.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 4-1 (Casissa abstained) in favor of the motion.
7. TOWN MANAGER AND COUNCIL REPORTS
(Discussion begins at 1:40:15 / 1:57:00 https://youtu.be/rLvTdNNOX64?si=Y-rbag8Ch20q3alA&t=6015) Town Manager: Town Manager Adam Wolff announced that the Town would be holding an ADU workshop on October 4th. He stated that there is now a delay on the Highway 101 Tamalpais Overcrossing Project. Lastly, he reminded Council about the invitation to tour the Paradise Pump Station.
Town Council Reports:
Mayor Ravasio: She attended the Marin Healthy Youth Partnerships.
Vice Mayor Thomas: She attended the Fire Council meeting in August and the Nonagenarians and Centenarians event put on by Age-Friendly Corte Madera.
September 2, 2025 Corte Madera Town Council Regular Meeting Minutes 4 Councilmember Andrews: No report was provided.
Councilmember Beckman: He attended the Nonagenarians and Centenarians event, CalCities Lobby Day, Central Marin Sanitation Agency Board meeting, a CalCities North Bay Division event in Vallejo, the annual North Bay Labor Council Labor Day breakfast and he announced meeting with Dr. Jeremiah Mock who is an advocate for banning tobacco products.
Councilmember Casissa: He attended the Nonagenarians and Centenarians event, a Marin Transit meeting, Age-Friendly Corte Madera meeting, Marin Open House in Marin City, Central Marin Sanitation Agency meeting, Coffee Meet and Greet with the new Superintendent of the high schools, an intergenerational meeting, Central Marin Police Council meeting, Corte Madera Chamber of Commerce Board meeting and lastly, he announced that the Lions Club EV Car Show is on September 13.
8. DISCUSSION OF DRAFT AGENDA FOR UPCOMING TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
8.A. Review of Draft Agenda for Tuesday, September 16, 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 8:28PM to the next Town Council Meeting on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.