Town Council Meeting Minutes | Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Fairfax Town Council Minutes
Regular Meeting
Fairfax Women’s Club, 46 Park Road, Fairfax, CA
and via teleconference Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Preceded by a Special Meeting to Conduct Interview and Consider Appointments Call to Order/Roll Call:
Mayor Hellman called the Special Meeting to order at 5:40 p.m.
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Stephanie Hellman, Mayor
Frank Egger, Vice Mayor (arrived at 5:45 p.m.)
Barbara Coler
Michael Ghiringhelli
Lisel Blash
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Heather Abrams, Town Manager
Michael Vivrette, Finance Director
Janet Coleson, Town Attorney, Public Agency Law
Janabai Owens Deputy Town Clerk
Michael Vivrette, Finance Director
Kristin Arnold, Director of Public Works
Jeff Beiswenger, Planning & Building Services Director
Bryn McKillop, Associate Planner
Special Meeting at 5:40 p.m. to Conduct Interviews & Consider Appointments In-person at the Fairfax Women’s Club.
1. Interview and Consider Appointments to the Park & Recreation Commission M/S Coler/Blash, Motion to appoint Linda Bolt to the Park & Recreation Commission for a four-year term ending May 6, 2030.
AYES: Blash, Ghiringhelli, Coler, Egger, Hellman
NOES: None
2. Interview and Consider Appointments to the Marin Commission on Aging M/S Blash/Egger, Motion to appoint Robert Holtz to the Marin Commission on Aging for a term expiring June 30, 2027.
AYES: Blash, Ghiringhelli, Coler, Egger, Hellman
NOES: None
3. Interview and Consider Appointments to the Planning Commission M/S Blash/Egger, Motion to appoint Dan Cardozo to the Planning Commission for a term expiring July 31, 2027.
AYES: Blash, Ghiringhelli, Coler, Egger, Hellman
NOES: None
Regular Meeting at 6:30 p.m.
Hybrid meeting at the Fairfax Women’s Club and via Zoom Call To Order
Mayor Hellman called the Regular Meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Town Council Meeting Minutes | Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Hellman led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of Agenda
M/S: Coler/Ghiringhelli Motion to approve the agenda.
AYES: Blash, Ghiringhelli, Coler, Egger, Hellman
Land Acknowledgement
Mayor Hellman read the Land Acknowledgement.
Meeting Protocol
Mayor Hellman read the meeting protocol.
Announcements
Mayor Hellman noted that the Town's first farmer's market of the season took place that day and was reported to be well attended.
Town Manager's Report
The Town Manager reported the following:
• The April 25 take-back event;
• Emergency tree removal at Peri Park;
• The giant sequoia tree at Doc Edgar Park;
• Fire Station 21 construction project;
• Several downtown construction projects are planned for the summer season, including the Marin Water Project on Bolinas Road, the Town's Park Road project, and a Ross Valley Sanitary District project, with the latter to be presented at the June Council meeting.
Future Agenda Items
Council Member Coler indicated she would be bringing forward in June a proposal to donate Measure A funds and Fairfax Open Space Committee budget funds toward the Sky Ranch Knolls open space property.
Open Time for Public Expression
Mayor Hellman opened the meeting to public comment.
● Multiple parents and students from Manor School expressed support on a school funding measure to keep local public schools open.
● Susan Adams commended the Fairfax Police Department for their service. ● Parker Clifford, Grace, and Sienna Rubino, students at White Hill, expressed support for keeping local schools open for their younger siblings.
● Nikki Clifford, parent, echoed student remarks and expressed support for keeping schools open. ● Mark Bell requested the Council revisit a proposal for an alternative attorney to prepare materials for a chain store ordinance.
● A member of the public raised concerns about bicycle and pedestrian safety near parklets on Bolinas Road, noise from outdoor speakers, road conditions, and debris on bike paths. ● Todd Greenberg commented on transparency and democratic process at Council meetings, recognition of National Small Business Week, and requested that consent calendar items be pulled for discussion. ● A member of the public expressed concern about public funds used for open space acquisitions through private organizations and called for transparency and restrictions on conversion of publicly acquired land. ● A member of the public discussed the scope of authority of the elected town clerk versus the staff clerk and suggested the Town consider codifying those roles more clearly in the Fairfax Town Code.
Town Council Meeting Minutes | Wednesday, May 6, 2026
● Mina, Fairfax Chamber of Commerce, thanked the Council for ongoing communication and described the Chamber's role in supporting businesses during upcoming construction impacts. ● Larry Bragman, Chair of the Fairfax Festival Committee, requested that the $10,000 annual zero-waste event fee included in the MSS franchise agreement be directed toward Conservation Corps North Bay's waste and recycling services for the festival.
● Valerie spoke about parking and evacuation access on Dominga Avenue during downtown events. ● Deborah Benson commented on the upcoming Measure J sales tax measure, the absence of a sunset clause, and expressed support for removing parklets from Bolinas Road. ● Jess Lerner requested that removal of the giant sequoia at Doc Edgar Park be postponed until after August 1 to protect nesting birds, and asked that a protocol-level biological survey be conducted before any cutting.
● Kathy Flores inquired about the status of tree replacement obligations following prior sequoia removal and about lack of response to her emails regarding the matter.
Mayor Hellman closed the meeting to public comment.
Regular Agenda
1. Public Review: Proposed Budget Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Finance Director Vivrette presented the staff report and PowerPoint presentation for the proposed FY 2026-27 Operating and Capital Improvement Budget, noting this was the third of four planned presentations, with formal adoption anticipated at the June 3 meeting. The proposed budget totals approximately $15.9 million in appropriations and $14.6 million in projected revenue, with net transfers of approximately $1.3 million. The beginning reserve is projected at 27.3% of appropriations, with an anticipated ending reserve of 25.5%, slightly above the Council's minimum 25% reserve policy.
Councilmembers discussed and posed questions on multiple topics, including the distribution of property tax receipts to various agencies; the interest cost history of Measure K road bonds; the Measure C district tax and its role in capturing use tax; the composition and timing of tax revenue tranches and cash flow management; the projected reserve balance and its sufficiency relative to GFOA recommendations; the treatment of the 0 waste MSS franchise fee ($10,000 annually) and direction to redirect it toward Conservation Corps North Bay festival services ($8,800) with the remainder available for other 0 waste events; the RFP for a fee study; and potential future revenue sources including a fee increase, road bonds, or a special public safety tax.
Council discussed the Chamber of Commerce funding request, acknowledging the value of the Chamber's work and the Town's existing in-kind support through police overtime at events. Council indicated interest in receiving more detailed financial information and cost-per-event metrics from the Chamber before the June 3 budget adoption.
Mayor Hellman opened the meeting to public comment.
• A member of the public questioned the accuracy of the Budget B scenario, suggesting a November ballot measure could prevent total loss of sales tax revenue and requesting a "Budget C" scenario. • Todd Greenberg opposed the discussion about what would happen if Measure J does not pass. • A member of the public commented on the rate of increase in fire service costs and asked whether Fairfax's rates were comparable to similar jurisdictions. • Mark Bell commented on the legal budget levels and costs associated with legal support. • A member of the public raised concerns about the Ross Valley Flood Zone and recommended the Council consider placing withdrawal from the flood zone on the ballot. • Mina, Fairfax Chamber of Commerce, clarified that the Chamber's funding request was intended to support business-district work, not the organization itself, and confirmed financial materials were being prepared for the Council.
• Chris Kenton asked whether fire service cost increases were on a trajectory that would outpace revenues even if Measure J passed.
• Deborah Benson questioned the stated savings from reducing two full-time positions under Budget B. • Valerie commented on Council member conduct during the meeting.
Town Council Meeting Minutes | Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Mayor Hellman closed the meeting to public comment.
No action was taken on this item. The budget will return for adoption at the June 3, 2026 Council meeting.
2. Amended Measure AA Expenditure Plan
Anne Richmond, Executive Director of the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM), and Derek McGill, TAM Director of Planning, presented the proposed amendments to the Measure AA expenditure plan. They noted that the amendments do not change the half-cent sales tax rate but reallocate approximately 5% of funding across categories.
Councilmembers discussed and posed questions on the history of major road funding under the original Measure AA, noting that Sir Francis Drake Boulevard through Fairfax was not among the completed projects; the potential for the Reimagine Roadways category to address Fairfax's Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and Bolinas Road corridors; the Crossing Guard program and potential greenhouse gas reduction funding alternatives; the newt crossing topic on Chilano Valley Road; and the multi-jurisdictional nature of Bolinas Road as a potential candidate for the new category. TAM staff confirmed that Sir Francis Drake through Fairfax is identified as an example project in the Reimagine Roadways fact sheet and that a corridor prioritization process with TAM Board guidance would begin within six to nine months of the plan taking effect July 1.
The TAM Board approved the amendments on March 26, 2026; the Board of Supervisors approved the item in early April; and six other jurisdictions had already approved the plan at the time of this meeting.
Mayor Hellman opened the meeting to public comment.
● A member of the public asked about allocation priorities, commented on the number of annual visitors traveling through Fairfax, and thinks Fairfax should receive greater infrastructure funding in return. ● Jeff Guild, BPAC member, commented on the safety risk on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard based on crash data and the need for attention to that corridor.
● Todd Greenberg asked about the relationship between TAM and the SMART train and the impact of bicycle infrastructure on traffic flow in San Rafael.
● Mark Bell referenced the historical designation of Fairfax-Bolinas Road as a federal secondary roadway and questioned previous TAM funding allocations.
● Sierra expressed general support for road improvements and urged action on pavement conditions.
Mayor Hellman closed the meeting to public comment.
M/S: Blash/Coler, Motion to approve the Amended Measure AA Expenditure Plan as adopted by the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) Board on March 26, 2026, following a comprehensive public outreach and review process.
AYES: Blash, Coler, Egger, Hellman
NOES: Ghiringhelli
3. Bicycle & Pedestrian Masterplan Updates
Associate Planner Bryn McKillop presented the staff report and PowerPoint presentation of a progress report on the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan update on behalf of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC), which was formed in September 2025. The BPAC has met nearly every month, conducted outreach including a walk audit, tabling at local events, and discussions with the Marin Bicycle Coalition, local schools, and the Chamber of Commerce.
Councilmembers discussed and posed questions on the scope of the plan relative to Fairfax's jurisdictional boundaries, noting that areas such as Sleepy Hollow and San Anselmo border streets are outside Town limits; the importance of making the plan actionable rather than aspirational, in contrast to the 2016 plan which was largely unimplemented; the preference for specific recommendations to be foregrounded rather than detailed survey response data; and the anticipated timeline, with consultant recommendations expected at the May 14 BPAC meeting, a joint BPAC and Planning Commission meeting anticipated in July or August, and a plan expected to come before the Council in September 2026.
Town Council Meeting Minutes | Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Mayor Hellman opened the meeting to public comment.
● Todd Greenberg raised concerns about the representativeness of the survey and cited the Valencia Street bicycle infrastructure project in San Francisco as a cautionary example of business impacts. ● Mina, Fairfax Chamber of Commerce, expressed support for improved sidewalk conditions and safer crossings while cautioning against proposals that would reduce downtown parking or significantly affect vehicle access.
● Jeff Guild, BPAC member, described a framework organizing community concerns into tiers: Sir Francis Drake as a high-speed safety priority, the downtown sidewalk environment as a candidate for a pilot project, and the Center/Pastore intersection as a complex problem requiring further study. ● Mark Bell expressed opposition to any proposal to reroute traffic from Bolinas Road and raised concerns about the impact on Dominga Avenue.
● Deborah Benson (via Zoom) noted that closing Bolinas Road had previously been removed from the General Plan in 2017, cautioned against revisiting such proposals, and asked for more accessible handicapped parking.
● Sierra (via Zoom) emphasized visibility, pavement condition, and dangerous transitions as the most pressing safety concerns.
● Kathy Flores (via Zoom) attempted to comment but experienced audio issues and was unable to complete her remarks.
Mayor Hellman closed the meeting to public comment.
Council Member Blash clarified for the record that closing Bolinas Road was not a recommendation of the BPAC but a suggestion submitted by a member of the public through the survey. No action was taken on this item.
4. CONSENT CALENDAR
Items Removed from the Consent Calendar: Vice Mayor Egger requested removal of item a. Financial Statement and Disbursement Reports.
Items Remaining on the Consent Calendar:
b. Quarterly Report: Treasurer
c. Quarterly Report: Recreation & Community Services
d. Councilmember Reports
e. Minutes — Town Council Meetings: April 2, 2026
f. Police Department Dispatch Agreements
g. Accessory Dwelling Unit and Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance h. Approve Projects Funded by Senate Bill 1
i. Measure A Work Plan
j. Pride Flags for June 2026
k. Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month l. Jewish American Heritage
m. Older Americans Month
Mayor Hellman opened the meeting to public comment on consent calendar items b through m. ● Todd Greenberg commented on the consent calendar process, item 4j, and a 35-person citizen petition he submitted.
Mayor Hellman closed the meeting to public comment.
Town Council Meeting Minutes | Wednesday, May 6, 2026
M/S: Coler/Blash Motion to approve consent calendar items b through m.
AYES: Blash, Hellman, Coler, Egger
NOES: Ghiringhelli
Item a — Financial Statement and Disbursement Reports
Vice Mayor Egger asked questions regarding the March financial statement, specifically the breakdown of legal costs in the check register that he could not locate on the legal cost summary page. Finance Director Vivrette explained that the legal cost summary reflects the month in which services were provided, not the month in which payment was made, which may cause timing differences between the check register and the summary schedule.
The Town Manager confirmed this distinction.
Mayor Hellman opened the meeting to public comment.
● Todd Greenberg discussed legal costs in the financial statement, and asked why payments to the Department of Justice appeared in the check register.
Mayor Hellman closed the meeting to public comment.
The financial statement was received. No formal action was required.
COUNCIL REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Mayor Hellman noted that the previously approved $55,000 Measure A allocation for the Women's Club includes a garden upgrade component, and inquired how a portion of those funds might be designated for a memorial to the four lives lost. Council Member Blash noted that additional parties would need to be involved. Mayor Hellman determined to follow up with staff offline.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 11:15 p.m.