FAIRFAX TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
STAFF REPORT
1 AGENDA ITEM 4.c
MEETING DATE
PREPARED FOR
PREPARED BY
SUBJECT
January 9, 2025
Mayor and Town Council
Christine Foster, Deputy Town Clerk
Receive report on Councilmembers’ assignments, committees, and activities in December 2024.
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 Blash
• Miscellaneous meetings with the town attorney and/or town manager on emergent issues. • Various informal conversations with residents about issues of concern. 11/27, 12/06, 12/11, 12/16: Met with Town Manager and donor group interested in addressing homelessness
12/04: Regular Town Council Meeting. Election results certification, farewell to outgoing council members, welcoming new council members, reorganization, Marin Sanitary Rates, Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana (MAMM).
12/05: Ross Valley Paramedic Authority Board Meeting. Discussed adjustments to budget due to new equipment purchases, audit report, and closed session on lease for Ross ambulance facility. 12/06: Spoke with County rep about land use, housing, homelessness 12/07: Fairfax Winter Market: Helped serve drinks with other council members to support the Fairfax Chamber of Commerce
12/09: Transportation Authority of Marin Board Meeting. Approved the County Wide Transportation Plan.
This comprehensive plan outlines a vision for creating a safer, more equitable, and sustainable transportation future for Marin County.
12/09: Spoke with expert on encampment resolution about possible steps to resolving encampment 12/11: Met with Town Manager and County rep on homeless services 12/18: Special Town Council Meeting. Main issues: Anti-camping ordinance, MAMM update, future agenda items.
12/20: Spoke with a representative from another Marin jurisdiction over their concerns about the impacts of Fairfax’s recently passed anti-camping ordinance and homelessness prevention. 12/26: Attended Fairfax Channukah celebration and Menorah lighting in Bolinas Park. 2 Vice Mayor Hellman
In addition to the following, I had several hours of phone conversations with residents on the topics of Marian Alliance dispensary, Anti-camping ordinance, School Street Plaza, Fairfax Festival, and eBike safety.
Oct 5: Fairfax San Anselmo Children’s Center celebration Oct 9: RVFD board meeting
10/14: Wall property ribbon cutting
10/16: Fairfax regular town council meeting
10/23: Attended monthly MCCMC meeting
11/1: Fairfax Fire Station 21 renovation discussion with Fire Chief Dan Mahoney, Town Manager Heather Abrams, County OEM Director Steven Torrence, and Councilmember Cutrano. Exploration of funding options including FEMA grant.
11/6: Fairfax regular town council meeting.
11/12: Public Meeting on Housing Solutions in West Marin (Point Reyes) 11/13: Ross Valley Fire Board meeting
11/19: Fairfax Special town council meeting.
12/2 Meeting with Ross Guehring of Town Hall Public Affairs, who represents Mill Street applicant/ developer for School Street Plaza.
12/4 Fairfax regular town council meeting.
12/7: Attended 2nd Annual Fairfax Winter Market – volunteered at wine / beer booth. 12/9: Measure F Oversight Committee meeting.
12/10: Attended San Anselmo Town Council meeting for Councilmembers Fineman and Colbert farewell. 12/14: Attended and shopped Fairfax Annual Holiday Crafts Faire 12/18: Fairfax Special Town Council meeting
12/19: Meeting at RVFD Station 20 to discuss upcoming labor negotiations/contract. 12/19: Attended County Supervisor Katie Rice’s retirement party at Marin Art & Garden Center 12/22: Distributed $100 gift cards donated by large local merchant to residents of the Peri Park homeless encampment.
Councilmember Coler
1. December 3, 9, 17 – Met with Town Manager on various Council matters.
2. December 5 – Community Media Center of Marin (CMCM) Board meeting – The Board approved authorization of four resolutions regarding the potential building purchase and the new bank account for Redwood Credit Union; discussion of inspections conducted at the building; the Annual Report which was approved will be presented at MGSA in January; Coler & ED Eisenmenger will be lead on revising the new Designated Access Provider Agreement (DAP); a new master control will be installed I the studio mid-Dec. Coler had a call with attorney re: the DAP & subsequent calls with attorney/CMCM ED and follow-up with Board Chair re: the DAP.
3. December 5 – Countywide Priority Setting Committee (for HUD and state PHLA $$) – the Committee approved: the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan goals and funding priorities (with change suggested by Coler); the funding cycle process components and timeline; the Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PHLA) funding goals (with change suggested by Coler); Option 1 (timeliness option to meet HUD time requirements for reallocation of >$1.2M program income (if monies are not spent by HUD timelines, they will reduce funding for subsequent cycles and may require money paid back even if spent). Molly Kron, senior planner who has led the PSC for 7 years is leaving the County.
4. December 7 – Fairfax Winter Faire – served/sold drinks at the Chamber Booth with Mayor Blash, Vice Mayor Hellman and Councilmember Egger and others.
3 5. December 9 -Measure F Subcommittee meeting with Town staff, committee and Vice Mayor Hellman.
6. December 11 – Ross Valley Fire Board meeting.
7. December 12 – Marin Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) – The Commission approved:
Reso for Annexation of a San Rafael property into the San Rafael Sanitary District (SRSD) to get off septic; Reso for Annexation of a San Rafael property into the SRSD to get off septic; received a presentation on the Central Marin Wastewater Agencies (Ross Valley Sanitary District, Sanitary District No. 2 of Marin County, Central Marin Sanitation Agency, San Rafael Sanitation Agency, San Quentin Village Sewer Maintenance District; Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District, Murray Park Sewer Maintenance District - Murray was annexed into RVSD in 2019 by LAFCo) Municipal Services Review (MSR) draft – comments will be taken until Jan 24, 2025. Coler is Chair of Marin LAFCo.
8. December 14 – Attended the Fairfax Craft Faire.
9. December 19 – CMCM Building Subcommittee meeting with realtor re: building purchase.
10. December – Marin Wildfire (MWPA) Board – no meeting held in December.
11. December – MCE Clean Energy Board – no meeting was held in December.
12. December 26 – Attended the Menorah Lighting in Bolinas Park, as outgoing Mayor I was honored to light the service candle (invited by Rabbi Berkowitz).
13. November – Age Friendly Fairfax meeting – no meeting held in December.
14. December – Marin County Council of Mayors & Councilmembers (MCCMC) Legislative Committee – no meeting held 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 Egger
• December 4 Town Council Meeting
• December 18 Special Town Council Meeting
Councilmember Ghiringhelli
• December 4 Town Council Meeting
• December 18 Special Town Council Meeting
• Met with citizens to discuss our plan for introducing - Rescue Compassion City. This is a proposal for a focused and centralized location to house and provide services to our mentally ill unhoused population. It's time for a common sense, realistic, plan for people living outdoors. • Met with people living in the Encampment behind the baseball field and enjoyed a Christmas lunch together at Marios Cafe. We provided lunch over a three day period. We also discussed alternatives to living outdoors.
• Met with concerned citizens outraged over the high rises at School Street Plaza and the over development of our community, not supported with infrastructure, to be built shamelessly on sacred ground. Concerns ranged from lack of water, lack of public safety, lack of parking, over use of our public streets, and adding significant drive times during commute hours, and peak driving times. • Had a conference call with local Supervisor to discuss above items our citizens are outraged by, and to consider being on a County Wide Business Vitality Forum. • Had two open meetings downtown at local businesses to listen to citizens input and concerns.