FAIRFAX TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
STAFF REPORT
AGENDA ITEM #4.b
MEETING DATE February 4, 2026
PREPARED FOR Mayor and Town Council
PREPARED BY Christine Foster, Deputy Town Clerk
SUBJECT Receive report on Councilmembers’ assignments, committees, and activities in January 2026.
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
January 5: MCE Executive Committee serving as alternate for Councilmember Coler.
January 5: Weekly meeting with Town Manager Abrams
January 6: Discussion with former Mayor Ackerman regarding project status, planning and potential for resiliency center at the Pavilion.
January 6: Station 21 renovation project team meeting.
January 7: Town of Fairfax closed session: conference with legal counsel regarding anticipated potential litigation
January 8: Meeting with Staff and community members to discuss workshop and training for the Feb 13 planning retreat with the guiding principle or vision to heal the community. Objective and purpose:
how to listen actively to deeply understand one another without necessarily agreeing. Learn to identify and express underlying needs; Recognize common conflict patterns in interactions with others; Speak and listen in ways that reduce defensiveness and polarization January 12: Weekly meeting with Town Manager Abrams
January 12: Town of Fairfax regular meeting. Town Council approved the first reading of an ordinance amending Chapter 8.44 of the Fairfax Town Code to strengthen local regulations on tobacco and nicotine products, including banning the sale of nicotine pouches and vapes. The Council will consider the ordinance for adoption at its second reading at the regular meeting on February 4, 2026.
January 13: Station 21 renovation project team meeting.
January 13: Discussion with Placement (https://placemate.com/) to learn more about program, Mill Valley pilot and variations in market.
January 13, 15, 17, 20 Serving as president of MCCMC - multiple agenda planning discussions with MCCMC Clerk for January 28th and beyond.
January 20: Station 21 renovation project team meeting.
January 20: Weekly meeting with Town Manager Abrams
January 20: Agenda setting discussion with Deputy Clerk, Town Manager, Town Attorney and Vice Mayor.
January 21-23: League of California Cities: 2026 Mayors and Council Members Academy in Sacramento. Among several policy and education topics was Legal Guidance on Social Media For Local Agency Officials. chromeextension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.calcities.org/docs/default-source/new1 of 5 mayors-and-council-members-academy-session-materials/social-media-digital-communications-andcivic-engagementd39dd063-9fe7-42a9-b1f3-278401f84170.pdf?sfvrsn=423f33d0_1 • Social media in the public sector raises numerous First Amendment issues: Establishment of a public forum; Limiting Speech.
• Government Code Section 54952.2(b)(3) It prohibits a member of a legislative body from responding “directly to any communication on an Internet-based social media platform regarding a matter that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body that is made, posted, or shared by any other member of the legislative body.
January 26: Urban League Greater San Francisco Bay Area hosted: 1st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Breakfast Featuring the State of Black Bay Area Report & 2026 California Gubernatorial Forum January 27: Station 21 renovation project team meeting.
January 27: FOSC (Fairfax Open Space Committee) - attended meeting to discuss FOSC recommendations via community survey on Wall Property and trail naming. Several next steps include signage, consent from Graton Rancheria (federally recognized tribe of Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo).
January 29: Meeting with town staff and Fairfax Chamber of Commerce Vice Mayor Egger
Jan. 20th: Met with Mayor Hellman and staff to discuss the Feb. 4th Town Council agenda.
Attended the Jan. 22nd Fairfax Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee Meeting:
Distributed a memo addressing issues that I have been recommending since Nov of 2024: Reducing speed limits in the Downtown area from the Library & Marinda Dr. on Broadway and S.F. Drake to Pastori from 25 mph to 20 mph, on Bolinas Road from Creek to Broadway and all of Park Road. There are other narrow streets in Town where it is difficult for two vehicles to pass that should be looked at for reduced speed limits. Reducing speed limits makes our Downtown safer for Pedestrians and bicyclists alike.
Better enforcement of speed limits and pedestrian right of way violations.
Add new crosswalks on Bolinas Road at Creek, Sherman and Mono Lane. The Mono Parking Lot has become a street passthrough to get from Bolinas to Bank Street creating congestion on Bolinas Road and liability issues for the town. Making our crosswalks safer with better signage and lighting.
Resurfacing Center Blvd. between Pastori and Pacheco as its dangerous for bicyclists.
Attended the Jan. 27th Open Space Committee Meeting: Mayor Stephanie Hellman and I were there as the Ad Hoc Committee to discuss the various naming of sites and trails on the Wall property including.
Only 2 trails will be named, Miwok and MOST. The Mayor and I will coordinate with the Graton Rancheria and possibly local Miwok tribal members.
As Fairfax's Council rep to the FOSC, we discussed signage for rules and regs like Open Sunrise to Sunset, No Camping, No Fires, bicycles on fire roads with speed limits.
A few 3&1/2' X 5' X 3" thick signs are being carved on Clear Heart Redwood slabs by Mot for the Bright Side Overlook, Jessica Green and Fairfax Open Space Preserve (I have to pick up 2 more Redwood slabs to be carvesd)
Attended the Jan. 28th, Citizens Disaster Council Meeting:
Discussed Vegetation Management, tree trimming and removals and who is responsible for the tree trimming and Fairfax's Tree Ordinance implementation, the recent AT&T 911 outage, the recent King 2 of 5
Tides and flooding issues and evacuation issues and how much time necessary to evacuate the Town in case of a wildland fire.
Attended the Jan. 28th Food Zone 9 Advisory Meeting at the Civic Center: Discussed the last two annual budgets, 2026-27 and 2027-28 as the Agency winds down. No discussion of a new ballot measure to continue the tax, Building Bridge 2 was discussed, its removal and mitigation and what happens if it's not removed. Discussed the Corte Madera Creek fishery, fish ladders and fish passage blockage. I had sent Staff a series of fish photos and fish ladder blockages taken in Fairfax.
The Board voted 3 yes, 1 no (Egger), 1 absent and I vacant position. Steff with check with County Council as to how many of the 7-member advisory board votes are needed for passage. If only 5 were in attendance, 3 may be sufficient to pass a motion. My stated concern was no clear understanding if the broken fish ladder that blocks fish passage below the Ross Post Office will be removed.
Councilmember Coler
1. Jan 5 – MCE Clean Energy Executive Committee meeting Part 1 – did not attend due to conflict, Mayor Hellman attended as my alternate. Jan 9 – MCE Clean Energy Ex. Com Part 2 – Power Charge Indifference Adjustment (PCIA) update & defining the new Finance Committee scope and meeting date/time each month (this will serve as a recommendation to the Board of Directors).
2. Jan 6, 9, 13, 20 - Meeting with Town Manager on various Council matters.
3. Jan 8 – Marin Wildfire (MWPA) Executive Committee meeting & premeeting for Ex Com Dec Jan 7 – did not attend due to schedule conflicts.
4. Jan 12 – Town Council meeting.
5. Jan 14 - Ross Valley Fire Board meeting – Closed session – Mollenkopf; Board: held a public hearing re: AB 2561 (vacancies – two FF/paramedics are vacant – recruitment January); appointed Director McMillan President and Director Coler Vice Pres.; approved Reso 26-01 which adopted line-item budget revisions for FY 25/26 (with 5 year forecast budget projection); received budget reports reflecting the 20-year history of JPA Member agency contributions; approved a BOD Onboarding Handbook and appointed and Ad hoc Onboarding Committee – Hellman and Shortall.
6. Jan 15 – Marin Wildfire (MWPA) Board meeting – mtg was canceled.
7. Jan 15 - MCE Clean Energy Board meeting (held at MCE Concord office) – The Board: added Board members to Committees (Coler was appointed to the 2026 Ad Hoc Contracts Committee, already serves on Exec. Comm.); received a report on ensuring accuracy in local information (provided specifics on misinformation in the IJ and other outlets); received policy updates on Legislative & Regulatory matters; elected the Board Chair Shanelle Scales-Preston and Vice Chair Darling; approved the new Finance Committee Scope – 5 Board members were appointed (2 from Marin, 1 Contra Costa, 1 Solano and 1 from Napa Co.); received an extensive timeline of the Corby Battery Storage Project in Solano County (unanimously approved by the Board in 2023, TB constructed in 26/27, it has recently become controversial likely due to the Morro Bay fire at the battery storage facility) – there were many public comments, the Technical Committee will further discuss; and discussed the proposed MCE Governance Assessment to be initiated in early 2026 – 4 Directors were appointed to the Ad hoc subcommittee – Supervisors Scales-Preston, Sackett & Allessio and Benicia Councilmember Birdseye.
8. Jan 22 – Community Media Center of Marin Board meeting – did not attend due to vacation.
9. Jan 26 - Marin County Council of Mayors & Councilmembers (MCCMC) Legislative Committee – no mtg in Jan, reconvene in Feb. 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 3 of 5
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. Coler requested and was approved to follow all wildfire bills as they fit within land use/housing and local control.
10. Jan 28 - Marin County Council of Mayors & Councilmembers (MCCMC) monthly meeting – on Zoom. Speakers
11. Jan 29 – MCE Clean Energy Ad hoc Contracts committee mtg – on Zoom – mtg held after report submitted. Speakers included: Steven Torrence, Marin County Director Of Emergency Management, On the County’s Flood Response And Disaster Proclamation & Isaac Landman, Placemate Associate Market Director, Regarding Placemate’s “Lease To Locals” Program And Its Success As An Affordable Housing Solution.
12. Jan 30 - Age Friendly Fairfax mtg – mtg held after report submitted.
Councilmember Blash
Lisel Blash, January 2026 Meetings
01/06: Met with Town Manager & DPW Director. Discussed various issues including signalization for crosswalks, automated signalization for stoplights, dark sky ordinance, formula business ordinance, etc. 01/07: Special Closed Session. The Council met with Town Attorney and Manager re: items likely to result in litigation.
01/09: Safe Routes to School Task Force. Discussed county-wide pedestrian/cyclist safety study about crash sites and safety near schools, priority corridor projects--including Fairfax, Vision Zero and county efforts to lower speed limits around certain schools to 15 mph. Update on Safe Routes education activities in Ross Valley Schools. Discussion with San Anselmo Planning Director on pedestrian/cyclist initiatives in San Anselmo.
01/12: Town Council Meeting. Named a council subcommittee to work with the Fairfax Open Space Committee to come up with a name for the preserve and relevant features. Passed an ordinance setting minimum pricing for cigarettes and banning various types of tobacco products. Discussed Council assignments.
01/13: Cal Cities Roundtable: Housing Policy Ideas and Concepts. This discussion provided members with an opportunity to discuss potential legislative ideas and solutions for Cal Cities to consider for housing legislation this year.
01/14: Met with Town Manager. Discussed options for road funding, renewal of a Town tax measure, and traffic calming measures for Fairfax.
01/21: Met with Scott Schneider, P.E., Assistant Public Works Director of San Anselmo to discuss various transportation issues including traffic calming and lowering speed limits. 01/22: TAM Board Meeting (Transportation Authority of Marin). The Board discussed re-allocation of Measure AA funding to pay for ongoing crossing guard service, and to divert money from a few funds, including local roads, to a new program, Reimagined Roadways. The latter would seek innovative partnerships between the County and local jurisdictions to work on road segments that serve as major thoroughfares through Marin. Fairfax would lose about $29k of dedicated funding, although it could benefit if it resulted in a project coming to Marin or nearby communities. I abstained because of a pending conversation with Town and TAM staff on Tuesday the 27th. 01/27: Talked with County Planner. Discussed County efforts to lower speed limits around certain schools to 15 mph.
01/27: Talked with Planning Staff. Update on BPAC
01/27: Met with Town Manager, DPW Director, and TAM staff. Discuss Reimagined Roadways proposal. 01/28: Marin County Council of Mayors and Councilmembers: Various topics including:
1. Update from Steven Torrence, Marin County Director of Emergency Management, on the County’s Flood Response and Disaster Proclamation
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2. Presentation From Isaac Landman, Placemate Associate Market Director, Regarding Placemate’s “Lease to Locals” Program and its Success as an Affordable Housing Solution. 01/29: ILG Lunch and Learn. Webinar on changes to the Brown Act. 01/29: What About Age? Reception. Exhibit explores ageism through contemporary art, works by both local youth & senior artists.
Councilmember Ghiringhelli
Not received in time for publication.
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