AGENDA ITEM #4
TOWN OF FAIRFAX
STAFF REPORT
January 19, 2022
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Michele Gardner, Town Clerk
SUBJECT: Receive report on Councilmembers’ assignments, committees, and activities in December
__________________________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION
Receive Councilmember activities report.
DISCUSSION
Every month, each Councilmember provides a list of the meetings they attended in the preceding month on behalf of the Town, for inclusion in this report. Under the agenda section entitled “Council Reports and Comments” Councilmembers may choose to highlight one of those meetings.
Mayor Hellman
• December 2: Fairfax community Menorah Lighting on the 5th Night of Hanukkah at the Parkade
• December 3: Meeting with Archie Williams HS water conservation club leaders • December 4: Youth Dodgeball in the Pavilion attended as organizer and chaperone • December 6: Agenda setting meeting with Staff and Vice Mayor Cutrano • December 7: Climate Action Committee adhoc engagement subcomittee meeting • December 7: Meeting with Marin Water District
• December 8: Panel participant on “Women in Leadership” for Children for Change at. Novato high school
• December 8: “Coffee with A Cop” hosted by FPD Chief Rico Tabaranza – a community event at Coffee Roastery
• December 8: Ross Valley Fire Dept board meeting
• December 9: MCCMC water policy subteam meeting
• December 11: Fairfax Crafts Fair at the Pavilion
• December 14: Climate Action Committee co-chair meeting • December 16: MCCMC Water policy subcommittee Grants and funding working team meeting with Vice Mayor Cutrano and Councilmember Hill of San Rafael • December 17: Climate Action Committee engagement subcommittee meeting • December 20: Meeting with Vice Mayor Cutrano and County staff on Rent Stabilization • December 21: Climate Action Committee regular meeting • January 9: Climate Action Committee sub-team focused on social media – Instagram calendar planning
• January 10: Fairfax council agenda setting meeting with Staff and Vice Mayor Cutrano • January 11: Water resiliency discussion with Fairfax community members • January 12: Ross Valley schools community meeting (RVSD and RVC) • January 12: Ross Valley Fire Board meeting
2 • January 13: Cal Cities California Cities policy committee • January 13: Archie Williams High School Equity meeting • January 13: MCCMC Water policy subcommittee
• January 18: Meeting with county leaders regarding Victory Village action plan addressing resident issues and escalations.
• January 18: SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice) Antiracist Education Workgroup • January 18: Climate Action Committee regular meeting
Vice Mayor Cutrano
• 12/4—Community Hanukkah sponsored by the Fairfax Volunteers • 12/4—Ross Valley Paramedic Authority Meeting
• 12/6—Fairfax Town Council Agenda Setting with Mayor Hellman and Town staff • 12/8—Fair Housing Forum Sponsored by Marin Communications Forum, First 5 Marin, and Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California
• 12/8—Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) Holiday Luncheon • 12/8—Marin Emergency Radio Authority (MERA) meeting
• 12/8—"Coffee with a Cop” event with Fairfax Police Chief Tabaranza • 12/9—Info Session: Equitable Fine and Fee Reform Bootcamp • 12/9—Closed Session of the Fairfax Town Council – Fairfax Town Manager Search Update • 12/9—MCCMC Ad Hoc Water Policy Committee
• 12/13—Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) meeting • 12/14—Check-in meeting with Ross Valley Safe Routes to School • 12/15—Special Meeting of the Fairfax Town Council
• 12/16—Meeting with the Acquisitions Subcommittee of the Fairfax Open Space Committee (FOSC)
• 12/17—Check-in meeting and Town Walkthrough with Interim Town Manager Politzer, Interim Public Works Director Goldman, and staff from the Transportation Authority of Marin (Executive Director, Anne Richman, and Project Delivery Manager Bill Whitney.) • 12/20— Rent Stabilization meeting with Mayor Hellman and Marin County Community Development Agency staff
• 12/20—Town of Fairfax Housing Element Multi=Family Community Workshop at the Fairfax Library
Councilmember Coler
• Attended Community Media Center of Marin (CMCM) Board meeting (Dec 2) – Elected officers of the Board – Bruce Bagnoli (Chair), Greg Clarke (Vice-Chair), Susan Pascual Beran (Secretary – Susan represents the Arts Community and is also one of Fairfax’s Artists in Residence & Fairfax Open Space Committee Chair).
• Attended Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA) Citizen’s Oversight Committee Selection Ad Hoc Committee (Dec 3) – The Ad Hoc Committee reviewed applications and selected 3 members for the COC to be recommended to the full MWPA Board on December 16. • Attended MCE Clean Energy Executive Committee meeting (Dec 3) – Reviewed nominations for the Charles F. McGlashen Advocacy Award (voted to approve one nomination for presentation at an upcoming full Board meeting); approved amendments to three contracts; reviewed/edited letter to PUC regarding the proposed Net Energy Metering for Solar Customers proceeding – letter was sent. CEO Weisz reported that CPUC approved $11 million for MCE’s Peak Flex Market Program and PUC agreed that this is a very important program so they are adopting it statewide (helps with the “duck curve” problem). 3 • Attended the final meeting of the Standing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) workshops (Dec 4) – two cohorts were combined for this final meeting (the SURJ workshops have been held with participating electeds for about a year and a half).
• Met with Interim Town Manager several times on transition and other Town matters (Dec 7, 13, Jan 11, 18)
• Met with Fairfax property owner regarding issues with his property in West Fairfax (Dec 7) – referred to Interim Town Manager.
• Attended Marin Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) meeting (Dec 9) – Approved a resolution for reorganization of a property in unincorporated Tiburon to the Town of Tiburon and Sanitary District #2 without including a portion of Paradise Drive; approved a contract with Left Coast for Digitization of LAFCO files back to 1963; approved contract with company to conduct FY 2021 GASB 75 report; held closed session re: anticipated litigation. • Attended Fairfax Craft Faire (Dec 11).
• Participated in Zoom call with Town Clerk Gardner and Host Compliance representative regarding Short Term Rentals and HC services (Dec 14).
• Attended Town Council meetings (Dec 15).
• Attended MWPA Board meeting (Dec 16) – MWPA launched two grant programs for residents (media launch will be in January 2022): Defensible Space Grants & Home Hardening Grants totaling $500,000 in grant funds for the FY 21/22. These grants will help offset costs associated with making homes and properties more resistant to wildfire. A Defensible Space Grant will award up to $1000 per parcel and is available to all households who meet the California Office of Emergency Services’ definition of Access and Functional Needs, including any of the following: • Families with children under the age of 18, including pregnant women • Older adults (60+) • Residents with chronic conditions or injuries • Low-income households • Residents dependent on public transportation • Residents with limited English proficiency • Residents with physical, developmental or intellectual disabilities A Home Hardening Grant will award up to $500 per parcel with a 50% match, and is available to all residents. The grant application process is an integration between the Defensible Space & Home Hardening Evaluation program, powered by Fire Aside, and Survey Monkey to apply. Residents must receive a Defensible Space & Home Hardening Evaluation Report (“Evaluation Report") from their local Fire agency prior to applying for grant funds. Upon resolution of the issues identified in their Evaluation Report, eligible residents can start the application process online at https://www.marinwildfire.org/resident-info/resident-grants and submit their receipts and photos showing proof that work has been completed. Residents may request an inspection if none has been conducted – turnaround is 2-4 weeks. Three Citizens Oversight Committee members were appointed by the Board to 3-year terms: West Marin – Jennifer Howard; Central Marin – Larry Chu; Civic Association – Michael Wara. Acknowledged Environmental Compliance document for the Mill Valley Shaded Fuel Break project; adopted policies for election of Board President and Vice- President and MWPA Code of Conduct; Adopted Procurement Policy, Adopted Reserve Policy (equivalent to 15% of the annual budget of the MWPA - & transferred $3M from unspent revenue from Fiscal Year 2020/2021 into the reserve fund); approved process for annual EO performance review; approved creation of limited term staff positions to ensure projects can be completed and administrative work is conducted by staff at this level rather than EO and Environmental Manager (salary surveys, etc. to be conducted and presented to Board in early 2022); discussion of expenditure of MWPA funds on public lands.
Proclamation read and presented to Board Member David Kimball who is leaving the Board and the Bolinas Fire District (Coler drafted and read the Proclamation). • Attended MCE Clean Energy Board meeting (Dec 16) – Presented the Climate Action Leadership Award to Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry; voted to recommend adjustments 4 to the proposed MCE Rate Adjustment to the full Board (as there will be a delay with some PGE costs) – approved small increase for January 2022 and bifurcated the second increase until March (or later, depending on the timing of PGE rates availability) – need to increase rates due to the significant increases in energy and resource adequacy costs, it is anticipated there will be a relatively significant savings compared to PGE when the 2nd part of the rate increase takes effect in March/April 2022 (achieving a minimum 2% discount relative to PGE rates); received report on successful completion of Renewable Energy prepayment transaction ($603M prepayment of 4 transactions will save $2.6 million/year over the next 6 years). CEO presented highlights of the MCE 2021 Impact Report.
• Attended Fairfax Age Friendly Task Force meeting (Dec 17) –debrief on 90 and Better annual celebration (next year plan to hold again in November and deliver gift baskets again); discussed need for Age Friendly exercise equipment by PARC; pedestrian flag program at Bolinas/Broadway.
• Marin County Mayors & Councilmembers Legislative Committee – no meeting in December. • MCCMC Legislative Committee Scope of Advocacy: Fiscal Protection: protect city revenues from state Local Control: support legislation that enhances local control of resources to provide services while supporting regional co-operation. Oppose unfunded mandates and preemption of local authority and control of land use Transportation Investment: promote stable transportation finance structure for state and local government. Multimodal, enhancing livable communities Housing/Land use: protect local government land use authority. Oppose punitive housing legislation, and legislation that restricts or reduces local discretion on land use decisions. Other legislation can be recommended to MCCMC at a regular meeting.
Councilmember Goddard
• 12/2- Part of the organizing team for the Fairfax Community Hannukah celebration in the Parkade
• 12/3- MCCMC Economic Recovery meeting:
o Focus group held by Marin Economic Forum (MEF)
o Briefing by MEF introducing and soliciting input regarding the Marin County Economic Vitality Strategic Plan
• 12/4- Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ): 5th and final workshop facilitated by (SURJ) designed for elected officials
• 12/4- Fairfax Youth Dodgeball Night sponsored by Fairfax Recreation: Part of the planning team and volunteered at the event
• 12/5- Fairfax Firewise and NRG Leads meeting which occurs every 2 months • 12/7- MCCMC Homeless Committee: Met with San Rafael Council Member Rachel Kertz to discuss the 2022 work plan and our collaboration as Co-Chairs of the Committee • 12/8- Attended ‘Coffee with A Cop’ at the Fairfax Coffee Roastery • 12/8- Ross Valley Fire Board Meeting: Reviewed draft JPA Amendments and Labor Side Letter related to the closure of the Ross Fire Station
• 12/11- Fairfax Craft Faire: Coordinated and volunteered waste source separation at the event • 12/14- Zero Waste: Met with members of Plastic Free Marin and San Anselmo Climate Action Commission to design signage and pilot new receptacles for the Downtown public right of way.
The goal is to simplify and clarify signage to decrease contamination and provide consistent messaging and receptacles in Fairfax and San Anselmo
• 12/15- Town Council Continued Regular Meeting
• 12/15- Town Council Special Meeting
• 12/15- Town Council Special Meeting #2
5 • 12/16- Fairfax Festival Committee Meeting
Councilmember Ackerman
• 12/1 - Council meeting, at which I rotated out of the Mayor slot. Thank you for the opportunity! • 12/2 - MCE Tech Committee
• 12/8 - TAM Luncheon for board members and alternates
• 12/8 - Coffee with a Cop (actually most of our officers) - excellent event! • 12/14 - Meet with Damian Morgan & Adam
• 12/15 - Council Special Meeting
• 12/16 - interviews of candidates for Sustainability Coordinator • 12/21 - Climate Action Committee regular meeting
• 1/12 - Marin-Sonoma Mosquito & Vector Control Board meeting