LARKSPUR CITY COUNCIL
DRAFT MEETING
MINUTES
Larkspur City Council Chambers
400 Magnolia Avenue, Larkspur CA
September 6, 2023
For full video/audio of the meeting, go to http://www.cityoflarkspur.org (Quick Links – Watch City Council Meetings)
REGULAR MEETING
Mayor Paulson called the regular meeting to order at 6:30 P.M.
1.ROLL CALL & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
COUNCIL PRESENT: Scot Candell, Kevin Carroll, Catherine Way and Mayor Gabe Paulson.
COUNCIL ABSENT: None.
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Dan Schwarz, City Attorney Sky Woodruff, Assistant City Manager/Interim City Clerk Shannon O’Hare, Public Works Director Julian Skinner, Administrative Services Director Cathy Orme, Administrative Services Director Emilia Gabriele, Senior Planner Alex Othon and Community Services Director Elise Semonian.
Mayor Paulson led the pledge of allegiance.
2.PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comments were received from:
•Rob Webb
•Marsha Nalbandian
•Anonymous speaker.
3.PRESENTATIONS & PROCLAMATIONS
3.1 A Proclamation Declaring Biodiversity Day in Larkspur.
Mayor Paulson read a proclamation declaring September 7, 2023, as Biodiversity Day in the City of Larkspur.
Public comments were received from:
•Laura Lovett
•Dana Swisher
•Sandy Goldman
•Paul De Silva
4.APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember Carroll removed 4.3 for further discussion.
Upon motion by Mayor Paulson, and seconded by Vice Mayor Candell, the City Council approved the remaining items on the consent calendar in one motion. The vote was unanimously in favor.
The approved consent calendar consisted of the following items:
4.1 Approve warrants.
4.2 Approve minutes of the August 16, 2023, regular meeting.
4.4 City of Larkspur Response to 2023 Grand Jury Report Entitled Build More ADUs-An RX to Increase Marin’s Housing Supply
4.3 Adopt Resolution 52/23 approving the plans and specifications and working details for Redwood Highway (North) Bicycle and Pedestrian Path Improvements, CIP 21- 305.
Julian Skinner, Public Works Director presented the staff report and answered questions.
Upon motion by Councilmember Way and seconded by Vice Mayor Candell to adopt Resolution 52/23 approving the plans and working details for Redwood Highway (North) Bicycle and Pedestrian Path Improvements, CIP 21-305. The motion did not pass with 1-3 in favor (Way in favor and Candell, Carroll and Paulson opposed). The 3 votes in opposition were conditioned on the understanding that the matter will be considered in two weeks.
5.CITY MANAGER’S ORAL REPORT
City Manager Schwarz gave his oral report.
6.COUNCILMEMBERS’ ORAL REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Councilmember Carroll reported on the matters heard by the Heritage Preservation Board and Planning Commission. He also spoke about an event at Piper Park and an open house at 1251 South Alisa. He indicated that a meeting will be held tomorrow with the CEO of the Marin Community Clinics and that a senior fair will be held tomorrow at the Marin Civic Center.
Mayor Paulson commented on the importance of health and human services in the City of Larkspur.
7.PUBLIC HEARINGS
7.1 PUBLIC HEARING ON OBJECTIVE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENTSTANDARDS FOR MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENTS Public hearing to consider introducing a draft ordinance that would make amendments to the Larkspur Municipal Code including adding a new Title 20 with Objective Design and Development Standards (ODDS) to apply to certain mixed use and multifamily development projects. The ODDS includes a map of zones where different standards would apply. The standards address all aspects of development. Changes from existing zoning regulations include reduced parking, increased height limits, increased number of stories, and modified setback requirements. The City Council will also consider a draft resolution that would amend the Larkspur General Plan, Downtown Specific Plan and Central Larkspur Specific Plan to make the plans consistent with the ODDS.
A presentation was made by David Masten from ELS Architecture. Community Services Director Elise Semonian presented the staff report and answered questions from the Council.
Mayor Paulson opened the public hearing.
Public comments were received from:
•James Holden
•Johnson Reynolds
Mayor Paulson closed the public hearing.
Upon motion by Councilmember Way, and seconded by Vice Mayor Candell, the City Council adopted Resolution 53/23, amending the Larkspur General Plan, Downtown Specific Plan and Central Larkspur Specific Plan to make the plans consistent with the Objective Design and Development Standards. The vote was unanimously in favor.
Upon motion by Councilmember Way, and seconded by Vice Mayor Candell, the City Council introduced and waived the first reading of Ordinance 1072 as amended. The vote was unanimously in favor. Ordinance 1072 will be brought back to the next regular meeting for adoption.
8.BUSINESS ITEMS
8.1 RENT STABILIZATION
City Manager Schwarz presented the staff report regarding Ordinance 1067 and answered questions.
Public comments were received from:
•Ann Clark
•Dorothy
•Romeo Arrieta
Upon motion by Councilmember Carroll and seconded by Mayor Paulson, the City Council waived the second reading and adopted Ordinance 1067 adding Chapter 6.20 to the municipal code and establishing rent stabilization regulations including prohibiting residential real property rental rate increases that exceed five percent plus a consumer price index or seven percent, whichever is lower, in a twelve-month period annually, and defining a base rent as the rent in effect on May 8, 2023.
The motion was carried 3-1 in favor (Candell, Carroll and Paulson in favor, Way opposed).
9.ADJOURN
The Council adjourned the meeting at 9:00 p.m.
Attested
Assistant City Manager/
Interim City Clerk Shannon O’Hare