FAIRFAX TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
STAFF REPORT
1 AGENDA ITEM #10
MEETING DATE: August 2, 2023
PREPARED FOR: Mayor and Town Council
PREPARED BY: Christine Foster, Deputy Town Clerk
SUBJECT: Receive report on Councilmembers’ assignments, committees, and activities in July.
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 Cutrano
June 12 -- Regular Meeting of the Fairfax
June 13 -- Fairfax-San Anselmo Neighborhood Meeting Hosted by Senator Mike McGuire. Updates from San Anselmo Mayor Steve Burdo, Fairfax Mayor Chance Cutrano, Marin County Sheriff Jamie Scardina, and Ross Valley Fire Chief Dan Mahoney,
June 18 -- Town of Fairfax Agenda Setting Meeting with Town Manager Abrams, Vice Mayor Coler, Town Attorney Janet Coleson, and administrative staff: Michele Gardner and Christine Foster June 18 -- Review of staff compensation protocols with Finance Director Michael Vivrette and Vice Mayor Coler
June 18 -- Meeting with Town Manager Abrams to discuss next steps with Fairfax-Bolinas Rd, a sign for Council meeting notices to be displayed in Bolinas Park, scheduling of Mayor and Manager Meetup in August, submittal for the TCFA/TDA Article 3 grant process, updates on homelessness in Fairfax, and the opportunity to reconstitute a Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee in Fairfax.
June 18 -- Special Meeting of the Ross Valley Fire District Board.
June 24 -- Meeting with the Fairfax Chamber of Commerce regarding fall events.
June 25 -- Fairfax Open Space Committee Meeting
June 26 -- Closed Session Meeting of the Fairfax Town Council Vice Mayor Coler
July 13 - Attended Senator Mike McGuire Town Hall held at the RVFD San Anselmo Fire Station.
July 14 Attended Community Media Center of Marin (CMCM) Zoom meeting - with a pro bono Financial Advisor, CMCM Executive Director, Board Chair re: change in retirement program for eligible staff.
Coler is leading the effort to establish a new, improved retirement program for staff.
July 18, 25, August 1 - Met with Town Manager on Town matters (Agenda setting mtg with Mayor) Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority Board meeting was not held in July.
MCE Clean Energy Board meeting was not held in July.
2 July 24 - Marin County Mayors & Councilmembers (MCCMC) Legislative Committee –The Committee did not have a quorum, the Chair will send a qualified support letter on SB 272 (Laird) re: sea level rise planning – rationale will be to support funding for local jurisdictions for such and support for regional consolidation of these efforts; the Chair will send a qualified oppose letter on SB 825 re: bikes on sidewalks – rationale is inherently unsafe (and compromises) re: age friendliness of local jurisdictions and removes local control. Other updates – the legislature is on recess until Aug 14, when they return 2 weeks of fiscal committees then 2 weeks of floor amendments/votes. The Budget is essentially complete – AB 102 is the main bill and has been signed by the Governor. SB 423 (Weiner) – discussions ongoing for amendments, the bill has “serious momentum” – extends SB 35 provisions another ten years, includes coastal zone (overrides Coastal Commission); SB 584 (Limon) re: labor force housing is now a - year bill. 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.
July 25 - Attended Housing Element subcommittee meeting with Mayor Cutrano, staff and HE consultants.
July 26 - Attended Town Council Closed Session Special meeting.
July 27 - Attended Community Media Center of Marin Board meeting – Meeting held after report submitted.
July 28 - Attended Fairfax Age Friendly meeting - Planning for the 90+ celebration; discussions of future projects the group may undertake. Meeting held after report submitted.
Councilmember Ackerman
July 12 — Town Council Regular Meeting
July 12 — (due to TC meeting, was not able to attend Mosquito & Vector Control Board meeting) July 18 — Fairfax Climate Action Committee meeting.
July 21 — Marin Transit event announcing their receipt of a $31 Million federal infrastructure grant toward completely electrifying their entire bus fleet.
July 26 — Town Council closed session
Meetings as needed with Town Staff and with residents.
Councilmember Blash
Formal (meetings representing the town of Fairfax)
July 12 — Fairfax Town Council Meeting
July 26 — Fairfax Closed Session Meeting
July 27 — Transportation Authority of Marin Board Meeting (as an alternate) (tentative) August 2 — Fairfax Town Council Meeting
Informal Community Events (Informational re: engaging with the community) 3 July 13 — Mike McGuire’s Town Hall Meeting. Town Hall meeting in the San Anselmo fire station featuring State Senator Mike McGuire and Fairfax Mayor Chance Cutrano, San Anselmo Mayor Steve Burdo, Marin County Sheriff Jamie Scardina, and Ross Valley Fire Chief Dan Mahoney.
July 21 — Press Conference to Celebrate Marin Transit’s $31.5M Federal Grant to Enhance its Zero Emission Fleet. Marin Transit received the largest grant of this type in all of California. Marin Transit plans to convert its fleet entirely to Battery Electric Buses in order to reach its goal of 100% zero emission by 2040. One of the current fleet of electric buses runs on the #23 route, which serves Fairfax.
Speakers included:
• US Congressman Jared Huffman
• Amy Changchien, Deputy Regional Administrator, Federal Transit Administration Region 9 • Katie Rice, Marin Transit Board President, and Marin County Supervisor, and • Stephanie Moulton-Peters, Marin County Board of Supervisors Board President, Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Commissioner, Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District Board Member, and Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) Board Member, and Marin Transit District Board President.
July 22 — Marin Conservation League Picnic on the Patio. Marin Conservation League (MCL) is group of environmentally conscious, scientifically informed individuals who serve as the countywide authority on environmental policy. MCL’s committees monitor a broad range of planning and land use decisions county-wide to ensure Marin’s ecological values are maintained and restored. Picnic on the Patio is an annual celebration and informal gathering.
Councilmember Hellman
July 19 — Ross Valley Fire Dept Board meeting: Item #6 re Unanimous vote (required) was not achieved for one time use of reserves for partial funding of Capital Outlay at three Ross Valley Fire Stations. A subcommittee to pursue compromise potentially with the support of mediation, consisting of Directors Cutrano (Ffx), Finn (Sleepy Hollow) and Robbins (Ross) was formed.
July 24 — SURJ Marin monthly core meeting
July 26 — Fairfax town council closed session
*Vacation: July 7-14, 7/20, 21