FAIRFAX TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE August 5, 2026
PREPARED FOR Mayor and Town Council
PREPARED BY Christine Foster, Assistant to the Town Manager/Deputy Town Clerk SUBJECT Receive report on Councilmembers’ assignments, committees, and activities in July 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
July 1: Fairfax Closed council meeting related to SEIU negotiations.
July 2: Conditional Use Permits Discussion with Town Staff (Chief PD, Planning Director, Town Mgr; Deputy Clerk) and Fairfax Chamber of Commerce (Minna Kim). Current issue is the existing process is ineffective for downtown events - CUP process is 2mos+ and $2K. More discovery and discussion to follow.
July 8: Hosted Meet the Mayor public table at Fairfax Farmer’s Market.
July 8: Ross Valley Fire Board meeting.
July 10: Microgrid (planning for 8/5 presentation) discussion with town staff.
July 13: Post-Fairfax Festival (“FF”) wrap up discussion with town staff and festival leaders Larry Bragman and Chelsea Donovan. Summary and Key Follow-Up Items:
Festival Leadership & Planning
• Mr. Bragman has not yet decided whether he will organize EcoFest in 2027 and cannot speak for other volunteers.
• The FF team typically begins planning in December and will include the Town in its initial planning communications.
• Chelsea is stepping back from the FF role, she is finalizing documentation of festival processes to support future volunteers/staff.
• The Festival Committee will continue meeting beginning in December, a Town Council liaison is recommended to participate.
Operations & Infrastructure
• Expansion of Town Wi-Fi coverage to the west side of the Pavilion (ballfield, Peri Park, etc.) is needed to support vendor electronic payments. Heather will explore what the town can do. • Chief PD will share parking closure operations and procedures for the parade route with Chelsea
• Michael Vivrette (Finance) will add Police, Public Works, Finance, and other Town staff overtime costs as below-the-line items on the festival income statement.
Financial & Administrative
• Mr. Bragman will obtain an EIN/TIN prior to 2027 Festival. • Mr. Bragman will transfer the Festival account balance to the Town, retaining a $500 operating balance.
• FF will consider parking - creating separate VIP and general parking revenue opportunities (e.g., St. Rita's).
• Track the MSS Franchise Fee "Zero Waste/Event Fee" as a dedicated budget fund so it can support EcoFest and other qualifying events as originally intended. • The Festival Committee will evaluate reinstating a reusable "common cup" program for all beer vendors to reduce waste.
Public Safety & Alcohol Management & After Parties
• Install more prominent official signage prohibiting outside alcohol, including citations to the applicable Town code.
• Evaluate hiring security to help enforce alcohol policies. • Ideation about how to better message / increase awareness and enforcement of alcohol policy.
Stephanie will connect with John Korty on stage announcements, band sequencing, security concerns, and management of the Sorella after-party.
• The Town and Chamber will jointly communicate with downtown businesses regarding afterparties. • Explore potential code changes related to after-party management and bring the topic to a future Council agenda.
July 13: Weekly touchpoint with town manager Heather Abrams July 15: Weekly MCCMC “Executive Team” touchpoint. Working on outstanding items with City of Larkspur as fiscal agent.
July 21: Weekly touchpoint with town manager Heather Abrams July 21: Informal meeting at 46 Park Road for Memorial Garden planning.
July 22: Weekly MCCMC “Executive Team” touchpoint. Working on outstanding items with City of Larkspur as fiscal agent.
July 22: Town of Fairfax special meeting
July 29: Weekly MCCMC “Executive Team” touchpoint. Working on outstanding items with City of Larkspur as fiscal agent.
July 15-July 28: Multiple conversations and email exchanges Travis Balzarini, SEIU North Coast Regional Vice President. to support a common set of (salary study) data for both parties to work with for SEIU negotiations.
July 24-31: Multiple discussions with town manager related to flea infestation, remediation, and risk management.
July 1-30: Multiple discussions with former Fairfax councilmember Bruce Ackerman as a content subject matter expert for proposed Microgrid concept - presentation and staff report anticipated for 8/5 regular meeting.
Vice Mayor Egger
Not received in time for publication.
Councilmember Coler
1. July 1 – Town Council mtg.
2. July 2 –Marin Wildfire (MWPA) Executive Committee meeting - A Closed Session was held – Conference with Labor Negotiator & EO Performance Evaluation. The Committee approved: 5/7/26 Minutes & Board Agenda; had a presentation and discussion RE: the Marin Biomass Study https://www.marinrcd.org/marin-biomass-project.
3. July 3 – MCE Procurement Workshop #1 (Index Plus and Hedges) – The 2-hour workshop was held on June 24 in conflict with another of Board meeting of mine. I watched it online, several commenters said it was the best workshop on this topic they’d seen at any CCA, some said in the State. Workshop #2
(Resource Adequacy) will be held on July 8, conflicting with another Board meeting of mine (will watch subsequent online). CB Hall who is the Acting Head of MCE Procurement was the presenter.
4. July 6 – MCE Clean Energy Executive Committee mtg – the Committee approved recommendations with revisions and conditions for the formation of an ad hoc CEO Search Committee and a Grand Jury Response Committee (with recommended Board members names for each) for the full Board’s consideration. Some members also requested considering hiring an Interim CEO within the scope of the CEO search ad hoc. There were requests that the CEO search committee develop touchpoints to bring to the Board and/or Ex Comm dependent on timing. In addition, staff will send out emails to full Board on each requesting that if Board members wish to be on either that they send their name in to staff (the goal is to keep the CEO search to 7 and the GJ response to 5 – could change). The Committee approved a proposed exception to the Operating Reserve Fund Policy for the full Board’s consideration (withdraw $62M to cover rate reductions which started in April and deposit $80M from surplus revenues). The Committee approved a proposed resolution for the full Board to have the MCE General Counsel report directly to the Board rather than the CEO. The Acting CEO report: noted the 2 procurement workshops (#1 held on June 24, #2 will be on July 8, a 3rd may be added on date TBD RE: the CA Energy Commission’s requirements for the Power Content Label); Staff reached to finance stakeholders (Fitch, S&P, Royal Bank of Canada, River City Bank etc.) to determine if they have concerns re: business continuity, financial implications RE: MCE CEO matter – they do not have concerns at this time but expressed that timing is critical; the Governance Assessment contract is in place – work will start July 15; the 1st District Court of Appeals denied CALCCA’s appeal re: CPUC decision re: PCIA retroactivity; CALCCA will file an appeal with the CA Supreme Court.
5. July 14, 21, 28 – Mtgs with Town Manager on various Council matters.
6. July 8 – Ross Valley Fire Board mtg – The Board: approved a transfer of funds from reserves to the operating budget to pay San Anselmo for items replaced and/or improved during the Fire Station 20 remodel project (~$191,000); received a presentation on the Marin Wildfire (MWPA) workplans for the Central Zone for CORE funds - San Anselmo, Fairfax, Ross, Sleepy Hollow Fire, Kentfield Fire, Central Marin Fire and Marin Co Fire: 3 programs: Greater Ross Valley Shaded Fuel Break, Evacuation Route aims to create a “low fuel” zone around evacuation routes & Greater Ross Valley Defensible Space and Home Hardening Evaluation and Inspection; for D-Space local funds (for San Anselmo, Fairfax, Ross, and Sleepy Hollow (SH) – mostly for d-space inspection program); and for Local funds: FX, SA, SH, Ross – Wildfire Preparedness Coordinator; SA, FX, Ross - Invasive Vegetation Treatment Program provides a financial means for the Towns, in partnership with RVFD, to mitigate hazards within 200 ft of structures; SH – Direct Assistance program focus on Zone 0.
7. July 9 – MCE Clean Energy Risk Oversight Committee meeting – on zoom, staff discuss potential risks associated with procurements.
8. July 14 – Community Media Center of Marin (CMCM) – Vice Chair Coler and ED Eisenmenger met with an attorney re: retaining nonprofit tax status for building matters LLC.
9. July 15 – MCE Procurement Workshop #2 RE: Resource Adequacy – this meeting was held on July 8 which conflicted with my Ross Valley Fire Board mtg so I could not attend; I watched the video at home on July 15.
10. July 16 - Marin Wildfire (MWPA) Board meeting & premeeting (July 15)- EO Brown reported that the PSPS in Mill Valley was based on dry sea breeze – MWPA, Marin Co Fire & Southern Marin Fire urged PGE to do so (1st time for a PSPS, these conditions are hazardous causing fires. The Board approved: a
3.5% COLA for MWPA employees and also Executive Officer Brown (The Executive Officer’s base salary is $223,863 and the COLA increase will therefore amount to an additional $7,835.21/year – total is $231,698.21); the Town of San Anselmo was elected as MWPA Treasurer; a Professional Services Agreement with Ladris for the Evacuation Route Planning CORE Project for the San Rafael Zone (for $95,000) - Deliverables include intersection-level traffic control plans, evacuation route mapping, contraflow strategies, infrastructure improvement recommendations, pedestrian and bicycle considerations, multiple population scenarios, and a resource/equipment list for implementation; a Novato Fire District Fund Transfer Request (from the JPA-Wide grant program to their CORE grant &
Direct Assistance program -amount is $299,160.76); two Task Order Amendments that extend termination dates and add funds to the two, enabling work to continue during MWPA’s 2026-27 fiscal year. The Board approved Master Service Agreements for Norcal Firescaping and Building & Home Hardening for the EmberReady (aka Zone 0) program. Highlights of workplan updates: the Chipper program is in its 3rd round of chipping for this year. Thus far, the program has completed 2,260 successful pickups and removed 8,192 cubic yards of vegetation from residential properties (program will continue chipping in one of each of the 5 Marin Wildfire Zones each week through November); the Marin Defensible Space Alliance (MDSA is all of MWPA except Novato & SR who have their own programs funded by MWPA) is fully staffed with 29 inspectors and is actively inspecting parcels (new inspectors completed the Defensible Space Academy; > 7,000 evaluations have been completed thus far this season). Fire Safe Marin did a presentation on the “Retrofitting for Wildfire” training for licensed contractors to be launched July 21 – free 5 hour online training – results after testing is a Certificate that will be housed on FSM website and used by homeowners and may be helpful for obtaining insurance - Dr. Stephen Quarles, a renowned expert) is the primary speaker/trainer. Coler and Rodoni were elected to serve at Board President and Board Vice Pres., respectively for the FY 26/27 budget year.
11. July 16 – MCE Clean Energy Board mtg – The Board: approved: staff applying for a CA Energy Commission grant for EV Hubs (grant up to $5,000,000 for electric vehicle education, outreach, and charger installations to occur between from 2027-2030 in Disadvantaged (DAC) and Low-Income communities (LIC). There is no match requirement for this grant and awardees are eligible to pursue an additional $5,000,000 in Phase II – it is a 3 year grant); exception to Operating Reserve Fund Policy CAP & transfer (withdraw $62M to cover rate reductions which started in April and deposit $80M from surplus revenues); the Integrated Resource Plan and Preferred Conforming Portfolio (IRP/PCP) to be submitted to the CPUC by August 10 (the IRP encompasses a long-term planning horizon and details the procurement plan each LSE has adopted to meet the state’s goals of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and maintaining reliability) – must include: (A) Economic, reliability, environmental, security, and other benefits and performance characteristics that are consistent with the goals of achieving 40% reduction in GHG emissions from 1990 levels by 2030 and procure 50% renewable energy resources by December 31, 2030 – the IRP demonstrates how MCE can meet its share of the States’ goals of 25 MMT GHG by 2035 & 8MMT GHG by 2045; (B) A diversified procurement portfolio consisting of both shortterm and long-term electricity and electricity-related and demand reduction products;(C) Resource Adequacy requirements): creation of the Ad Hoc CEO Search Committee (7 Directors: Scales-Preston (Contra Costa Co, Board Chair), Coler (Fairfax, Ex Com Chair), Painter (Napa), Birdseye (Benicia), Andre (Larkspur), Sackett (Marin Co), McCormick (Lafayette); creation of the Ad Hoc Grand Jury Response Committee (6 Directors: Perrey (Mill Valley), Szakats (Pleasant Hill), Walker (San Anselmo), Belotz (Danville), Darling (Walnut Creek), Wilkinson (Belevdere); change to reporting structure for the General Counsel to clarify that they report to the Board directly. Board member(s) and public comment was heard on the Grand Jury Report.
12. July 20- MCE Executive Committee prep mtg with Acting CEO – after prep mtg it was determined to cancel the August Ex Com mtg due to limited items and none are time critical.
13. July 22 – Town Council Special mtg.
14. July 23 – Community Media Center of Marin Board mtg. – Discussion of CMCM staff filming shorts at the Fair (they are excellent!) – can be seen on Channel 30. Three Board seats are open – nonprofit (Karen Strolia is now CVNL CEO, she will find an appropriate nonprofit for us), Arts (the Board voted to appoint Bo Blanchard of the CA Film Institute to the Board), Business (Carl Laur will seek out from the new Marin City Rotary). Updates on the LLC matters for the building; outreach in Marin City; SHE CAN young women from all over the world filming at CMCM (through CFI); Helix Academy (neurodivergent youth) will begin classes at CMCM soon; Canal Multicultural Center filming at CMCM.
15. July 24- Age Friendly Fairfax mtg – no mtg held in July.
16. July 27 - Marin County Council of Mayors & Councilmembers (MCCMC) Legislative Committee (now being held at the Larkspur Library with zoom available for the public). The Committee voted to send an oppose unless amended letter RE: AB 956 (Quirk-Silva) re: ADUs and JADUs to require that ministerial
approval would be only if the ADU/JADU would be used as long-term housing (as opposed to a pool house, office, Short Term Rental or other non-housing uses). 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. Coler requested and was approved to follow all wildfire bills as they fit within land use/housing and local control.
17. July - Marin County Council of Mayors & Councilmembers (MCCMC) – no mtg until September.
18. July 28 – Marin Local Agency Formation Commission – Personal and Policy Committee mtg. – discussion re: legal services.
19. July 29 – MCE Clean Energy – interview with the Government Assessment consultant by zoom. The consultant’s are conducting interviews with each Board member (and others including e.g., stakeholders) Councilmember Blash
1. 07/01: Town Council Closed Session Meeting. Conference with labor negotiators, Conference with legal counsel—existing litigation.
2. 07/01: Regular Town Council Meeting. Adopted resolution calling for Nov. 3 election, Ross Valley Paramedic Authority restructure and upcoming ballot measure, Creek Road Bridge Environmental Study, 61 Bolinas Road cannabis application.
3. 07/06: Met with Town Manager.
4. 07/08: Met with local residents to read the Declaration of Independence In conjunction with Americans across the US.
5. 07/11: A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Attended play by local theater group in Peri Park.
6. 07/13: Met with Police Chief and Town Manager to better understand agenda item on various police information systems and cameras, including the potential of adopting Tasers and Automated License Plate Readers.
7. 07/14: Met with Town Manager.
8. 07/15: Met with Climate Action Committee Interns
9. 07/16: Marin County Office of Community Development: talked with staff about existing affordable housing in Fairfax and RHNA numbers.
10. 07/16: Community Meeting: Attended meeting with local residents concerned about immigration enforcement issues.
11. 07/17: Bike Share Meeting. Met with representatives from Redwood Bike Share and the Transportation Authority of Marin about the possibility of hosting a bikeshare hub in Fairfax.
12. 07/21: Automated License Plate Readers: Met with residents about their concern over the potential use of ALPRs in Fairfax.
13. 07/21: Met with Town Manager.
14. 07/22: Special Town Council Meeting. Certification of June 2 election, Established names for Fairfax Open Space Preserve, Short -Term Rental Update, Discussed Facilities Conditions Assessment.
15. 07/23: Transportation Authority of Marin Board Meeting. Main agenda items: Adopt Positions on 2026 State Legislative Bills, Discuss Marin Countywide Coordinated Traffic Signal Modernization Plan Update, Discussed TAM Travel Data Program.
16. 07/25: Coffee at the Commons. Attended community meeting on the future of the former golf course and fire station in San Geronimo Valley.
17. 07/25: Fundraiser/Gala for the Fairfax/San Anselmo Children’s Center.
18. 07/28: Met with Town Manager.
19. 07/30: Fairfax Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. We will discuss an update on contracts, draft administrative plan, and community engagement plan.
Councilmember Ghiringhelli
Not received in time for publication.