FAIRFAX TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
STAFF REPORT
1 AGENDA ITEM #2
MEETING DATE June 5, 2024
PREPARED FOR Mayor and Town Council
PREPARED BY Christine Foster, Deputy Town Clerk
SUBJECT Receive report on Councilmembers’ assignments, committees, and activities in May.
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 Coler
May 6 – Finance Committee meeting with Vice Mayor Blash and Town Manager with Finance Director and staff re: FY 22/23 audit.
May 7, 14, 28 – met with Town Manager on Council matters.
May 7, May 16, May 22, May 29 – Council Closed sessions.
May 7 – Fairfax Measure A Subcommittee meeting – developed recommendations for Council for Measure A (County Open Space and Parks) funding.
May 8 – Special Council meeting – primary purpose was Budget workshop for FY 24/25 budget.
May 13 – Wall Property Meeting with Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria (FIGR) representatives and Councilmember Cutrano.
May 15 – Tour of Possible Fairfax Affordable Housing Sites with Habitat for Humanity – with Habitat ED and her staff, Planning Director and staff.
May 15 – Wall Property Meeting with County Legal Counsel Kerchow, Max Korten/Carl Somers/Jon Campo/Brian Sanford and Councilmember Cutrano, Town Attorney and Town Manager. Katie Rice invited. Subject was County maintenance agreement of certain parts of the property.
May 15 – Mayor and Town Manager & other staff at the Farmer’s Market – availability 4:30-6pm.
May 16 – Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority Board meeting – The Board: approved the Annual Budget for FY24/25 (the projected revenue for FY 2024/25 is $21,907,664); adopted the extensive FY 24/25 Workplan (the Operations Committee developed the strategy for the FY 24/25 WP as: Continue the “House Out” approach; • Continue to reduce wildfire risk to communities by providing resources directly to residents for home hardening and defensible space activities; • Prioritize shaded fuel breaks directly adjacent to communities and explore the potential for strategically placed local/landscape area treatments (SPLATs) informed by pathways modeling; • Expand the use of prescribed fire and public education and involvement around beneficial fire; • Continue to prioritize evacuation planning and projects to improve safe and efficient evacuations; • Partner with insurance companies and the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) to help avoid insurance cancellations and control costs for homeowners; and • Increase public education, particularly to new audiences. Support activities that fire agencies and Marin residents can take, such as home hardening and defensible space (particularly Zone 0); safe evacuations; and reducing human-caused ignitions). The Board: acknowledged that the JPA-wide Direct Assistance Program CEQA was completed and approved the Project (a program to assist residents 2 in performing certain defensible space activities identified during defensible space inspections by working with contractors directly to perform the work – it would be managed by Marin Wildfire staff in collaboration with Member Agencies and defensible space inspectors. Activities would prioritize fire hazardous fuels within 30 feet of homes (zones 0 and 1) but could include work within up to 100 feet of homes in some cases – up to $266K allocated for FY 24/25); authorized the EO to sign an agreement with Panorama Env. for continued environmental services; authorized the EO to designate staff members to sign Task Orders less than $200k. Letters of intent were requested by June 1 for those wishing to be considered for Board President and VP (Rachel Kertz is current VP and should ascend to President in July). Note: the Chipper Program budget has been increased to $1.5M.
May 16 – Countywide Priority Setting Committee (PSC) meeting – the PSC makes recommendations to the Board of Supervisors (BOS) on allocations of HUD $$ (and some State $$) primarily to non-profits– this year for the entire County there is: CDBG (HUD) ~$1.6M, HOME (HUD) $705K, and PHLA (State) $1.2M. The funds are allocated BTW Housing, Capital and Public Services by specified formulas. The PSC is made up of electeds from each of the cities/towns/County and community reps of protected classes
from the planning areas. Recommendations were made by the PSC that will go to the Board of Supervisors June 4th for finalization prior to sending to HUD. Two representatives on the PSC have sadly passed away – Kevin Carroll, Larkspur Councilmember (on the PSC a short time but made a large impact) and Cathy Cortez (the at large community member who made a tremendous impact over eleven years).
May 20 – Marin County Mayors & Councilmembers (MCCMC) Legislative Committee meeting –The Committee approved sending oppose letters for: SB-937 (Weiner) defers cities collection of fees on developments until certificate of occupancy is issued; AB – 1886 (Alvarez) builders remedy stays available until HCD declares that Housing Element is in compliance (can take months or years); AB 1893 (Wicks) – oppose unless amended position – builders remedy is available if the City has failed to adopt a compliant HE – but they can deny if the developer may have not met objective development standards.
The Committee approved sending a support letter on AB 2485 (Carrillo) which requires HCD to reveal their analyses, data and methodology for determining RHNAs. The Committee took an emergency action to allow Chair Fredericks to send an oppose letter on the proposed budget taking excess ERAF money away from cities/counties and providing to Charter Schools – this would allow our lobbyists to lobby against this new position (in Marin County this would cut $700K from the County budget that is distributed to cities/towns. 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.
May 20 – Fairfax Chamber of Commerce monthly meeting - with Mayor, Town Manager, Deputy Town Clerk and Executive Director Minna Kim.
May 21 – Agenda setting mtg with the Vice Mayor and Town Staff for the June 5th mtg.
May 21 – Citizen’s Disaster Council meeting – the agenda is to update the Town’s Emergency Operations Plan and to evaluate conducting a Townwide evacuation drill. Coler is the only Mayor to convene the CDC since 2006.
May 22 – Town Council Special Meeting - The primary purpose was to conduct Town Budget Hearing and the MOU with MOST for the Wall Property. May 29 – Town Council Special Meeting – Purpose:
Elections, Tax Resolutions for Fairfax and Ross Valley Paramedic Authority, Approve Budget (4th Council meeting held in May).
May 22 – MCCMC monthly meeting– did not attend as Special Town Council meeting was held.
May 23– Community Media Center of Marin (CMCM) Board meeting – The Board discussed the need for a new Designated Access Provider Agreement (DAP) with the Marin General Services Authority (MGSA) 3 – MGSA will grant an extension of the current DAP for a year; the CMCM Board voted to provide an extension resolution to MGSA for one year & that the Executive Committee (Bruce Bagnoli, Greg Clarke, Coler) plus Steven Tulsky will work on revisions to the current DAP. CMCM staff have filmed over 50 government meetings since the last Board meeting a month ago.
May 24 – Age Friendly Fairfax meeting – held at Victory Village - discussion of 10-year anniversary of Age Friendly Fairfax; tabling at the Fairfax EcoFest; Oct 19 for 90+ celebration. Annie Young of Bennet House, Shaun Duncan of VV (she hosted the mtg) and Julie Young of the San Geronimo Community Center all met and shared ideas for programs at their respective locations for older adults. Willow Taraja of the Fairfax Library discussed the success of the Maker Faire on May 18 and upcoming programs with ESCOM teaching IPhone/Android and Protecting Online Privacy at the Library in June and July, respectively.
Vice Mayor Blash
05/01 – Special Closed Session Meeting followed by Regular Town Council Meeting: Conference with Labor Negotiators; Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation. REGULAR: Police Department Presentations, Housing Element Implementation, Electronic Filing System, Rainbow Flags/Crosswalk 05/02 – Ross Valley Paramedic Authority Meeting: Presentation of preliminary budget. Budget is in good shape with 20% of operating budget in reserves. Anticipating a surplus in September. Report from the subcommittee on the study of deployment and ambulance station location, and the ramifications of the possible departure of Larkspur from the JPA. The RVPA staff are gathering data for the study. The consultants will be working on the study next month.
05/03 – Town-Wide Survey Subcommittee Meeting: Discussed survey methodology, findings, and implications for the viability of a streets bond measure. 05/06 – Met with Town Clerk re: communications
05/06 – Met with Luke Barnsmoore of HomeMatch re: workshops for small-scale rental property owners, shallow rent subsidies, homeshare programs
05/06 – Finance Committee Meeting: discussed audit.
05/07 – Special Closed Session Meeting re: Wall Property and pending litigation. 05/08 – Special Town Council Meeting and Budget Workshop followed by special closed session meeting. Discussed townwide survey results; audit report; budget workshop; resident’s petition on dog park.
05/09 – Met with Town Attorney re: various
05/19 – Electrify Your Ride EV & Ebike Show. Fair-Anselm Parking lot. Explored exhibits on electrification, including cars, bikes, stoves, etc. and talked to exhibitors and residents. 05/19 – Affordable Housing in Marin Panel. A panel discussion with Rebekah Helzel of the Tamalpais Community Land Trust, Bianca Neumann with EAH Housing, and MEHC Board Chair Jenny Silva moderated by Dick Spotswood. Westminster Presbyterian Church, Tiburon. 05/21 – Agenda setting meeting with Mayor, Town Manager, Town Attorney, Town Clerk 05/21 – Citizens’ Disaster Council Meeting. Discussed holding a town-wide evacuation drill. 05/21 – Met with Town Manager re: various
05/22 – Special Closed Session: 1) conference with labor negotiators, 2) Public Employee Evaluation. 05/22 – Special Town Council Meeting: Budget Hearing. MOU re: Wall Property. 05/24 – Memorial Service: Serita Brooke (formerly with the Fairfax Police Department) 05/28 – Met with Town Manager re: various
05/29 – Special Town Council Meeting followed by Regular Town Council Meeting 05/26 – Talked with elected official from another Marin jurisdiction about concerns about the potential ceasefire resolution.
05/29 – Talked with elected officials from other Marin jurisdictions about concerns about the potential ceasefire resolution.
4 05/30 – Talked with a group of San Anselmo residents about their concerns about a potential ceasefire resolution.
Councilmember Ackerman
5/1 Town Council regular meeting, preceded by a closed session 5/3 MCE Technical Committee
5/8 Town Council budget workshop, preceded by a closed session 5/8 Marin/Sonoma Mosquito & Vector Control District regular board meeting 5/15 Marin Conservation League zoom: MarinCAN & Climate Commissions 5/16 Town Council closed session
5/16 MCE Board regular meeting
5/18 Fairfax Repair Fair at the Library – very well-attended event! 5/19 EV and eBike Show at the Post Office parking lot, sponsored by Fairfax and San Anselmo Climate commissions – also well-attended
5/21 Fairfax Climate Action Committee regular meeting
5/22 Town Council budget hearing, preceded by a closed session – approved MOU for Wall Property purchase for open space!
5/29 Town Council special meeting, preceded by a closed session Councilmember Hellman
April and May: Fulfilling on community engagement and input for the subcommittee to develop a resolution or proclamation related to a Proclamation for Commitment to and Support for Israeli– Palestinian Peace. Met in person with and/or on the phone with several community members and local leaders including Rabbi Berkowitz, Rabbi Elana, SR Councilmember Rachel Kertz, Rabbi Elana RosenBrown <[email protected]>, Scott Quinn, Director of Marin Interfaith Council, Marc Levine (ADL), Bruce Raful, Tiburon Councilmember Holli Thier, Palestinian Fairfax resident, 8 local Jewish community members.
May 1 Fairfax regular town council meeting.
May 3: Meeting with FM3 – firm that conducted scientific survey concerning bond to fund pavement.
May 4: Fairfax Local Artisan Pop Up at the Pavillion
May 7: Fairfax Closed meeting regarding Wall Property negotiations.
May 8: Fairfax Budget workshop (9am-3pm)
May 8: Ross Valley Fire Board meeting
May 14: Ross Valley School District Board meeting
May 16: Fairfax Closed meeting regarding Wall Property negotiations.
May 20: Memorial for RVFD Captain Addicks at Fort Baker May 22: Fairfax Closed meeting regarding labor negotiations with Fairfax Police Officers Association, Service Employees Union International (‘SEIU’) Local 1021; Unrepresented Employee Units and Performance Evaluation of
Town Attorney
May 22 Fairfax Special Town Council meeting – two key topics included Public Review for Fiscal Year 2024-25 Proposed Operating and Capital Improvement Budget and Consideration and Approval of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Between the Town of Fairfax and Marin Open Space Trust (MOST) Regarding the Acquisition of the Wall Property.
May 29: Fairfax Special Town Council meeting
Councilmember Cutrano
4/30/24—Meeting with Morgan Patton from Supervisor Dennis Rodoni’s office to discuss the Fairfax Dark Sky ordinance development and efforts to collaborate with the County of Marin on a uniform ordinance.
5 4/30/24—Meeting with Town Attorney Coleson and Samantha Stein (representative of Berry Trail residents) to discuss ongoing efforts and next steps to determine who ultimately owns and maintains Berry Trail.
5/1/24—Closed Session of the Fairfax Town Council. Find the agenda here. 5/1/24—Special Meeting of the Fairfax Town Council. Find the agenda packet here. 5/1/24—Regular Meeting of the Fairfax Town Council. Find the agenda packet here. 5/2/24—Meeting with Gary Naja-Riese, Marin County’s Director of Homelessness and Whole Person Care, regarding updates to homelessness in Fairfax, our Town-County partnership, and various strategies to support unhoused residents.
5/8/24—Special Meeting of the Fairfax Town Council and Budget Workshop. Find the agenda packet here.
5/8/24—Closed Session of the Fairfax Town Council. Find the agenda here. 5/8/24—Ross Valley Fire Department Board of Directors Regular May Meeting. Find the agenda packet here.
5/9/24—Call with Scott Lafranchi regarding various improvements to safety on the 200 block of FairfaxBolinas Road. 5/9/24—Meeting with Gary Naja-Riese, Marin County’s Director of Homelessness and Whole Person Care, regarding updates to homelessness in Fairfax, our Town-County partnership, and various strategies to support unhoused residents.
5/13/24—Meeting with Bob Kopelman, representative of the Fairfax Association of Small Rental Providers, regarding tenant protections.
5/13/24—Meeting with Jon Elkin regarding sites, strategies, and next steps for dog park campaign in Fairfax.
5/13/24—Meeting with Mayor Barbara Coler and representatives of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria to provide an update on the community’s efforts to acquire the Wall Property as public open space.
5/13/24—Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) Admin, Projects, and Planning (APP) Executive Committee Meeting. Find the agenda packet here.
5/14/24—Meeting with Leelee Thomas from Marin County’s Community Development Agency regarding updates to homelessness in Fairfax, our Town-County partnership, and various strategies to support unhoused residents.
5/14/24—Fairfax Community Emergency Preparedness Meeting. Find the agenda here. 5/15/24—Meeting with Mayor Babrara Coler, Town Manager Heather Abrams, Town Attorney Janet Coleson, and Marin County Open Space District representatives—Max Korten, Carl Somers, Jon Campo, and Kerry Gerchow—regarding the development of a Wall Property management agreement with Marin County Open Space District.
5/16/24—Meeting with Supervisor Katie Rice regarding updates to homelessness in Fairfax, including County partnership and various strategies to support unhoused residents. 5/16/24—Closed Session of the Fairfax Town Council. Find the agenda here. 5/20/24—Memorial Service for Ross Valley Fire Captain Rick Addicks at Fort Baker. Learn more about Captain Addicks’ life and legacy here.
5/22/24—Meeting with Congressman Jared Huffman and his Legislative Director, Shane Trimmer, in Washington DC to discuss various projects in Fairfax including our $30M RAISE grant and upcoming PROTECT grant to the federal Department of Transportation to rehabilitate Fairfax-Bolinas Road in partnership with Marin County and Marin Water, our effort to secure $2.5M in community project funding for the Fairfax-San Anselmo Children Center, and our request for a letter of support for the $500k California Coastal Conservancy acquisition grant for the Wall Property. 5/22/24—Closed Session of the Fairfax Town Council. Find the agenda here. 5/22/24—Special Meeting of the Fairfax Town Council. Find the agenda packet here. 5/23/24—Meeting with Laura Morgan-Kessler and David Wetmore, Marin County’s lobbying firm based in Washington D.C., to discuss updates to the Fairfax-Bolinas Road Project and the Fairfax-San Anselmo 6 Children’s Center, and to review various strategies to improve federal grant competitiveness for the Town of Fairfax and regional transportation projects throughout the County of Marin. 5/23/24—Meeting with Leelee Thomas from Marin County’s Community Development Agency regarding updates to homelessness in Fairfax, our Town-County partnership, and various strategies to support unhoused residents.
5/23/24—Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) Regular Board of Commissioners Meeting. Find the agenda packet here.
5/28/24—Regular Fairfax Open Space Committee meeting. Find the agenda here. 5/29/24—Meeting with Councilmember Stephanie Hellman to review various municipal resolutions, proclamations, statements, and community correspondence regarding ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and determine next steps for the proposed Israel-Palestine Peace Proclamation in Fairfax. 5/29/24—Closed Session of the Fairfax Town Council. Find the agenda here. 5/29/24—Special Meeting of the Fairfax Town Council. Find the agenda packet here.