Larkspur City Council
Minutes of September 4, 2024
LARKSPUR CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
Redwood High School
Kreps Conference Center
395 Doherty Drive, Larkspur CA 94939
September 4, 2024
For full video/audio of the meeting, go to http://www.cityoflarkspur.org (Quick Links – Watch City Council Meetings)
REGULAR MEETING
1. ROLL CALL & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Candell called the regular meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Stephanie Andre, Gabe Paulson, Catherine Way, and Mayor Scot Candell
COUNCIL ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: Assistant City Manager Shannon O’Hare, Senior Planner Alex Othon, City Manager Dan Schwarz, Community Development Director Elise Semonian, Public Works Director Julian Skinner, and City Attorney Sky Woodruff
Mayor Candell led the pledge of allegiance.
2. PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comment was received from:
• David Moller
3. PRESENTATIONS
None
4. APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR
Upon motion by Vice Mayor Way, and seconded by Councilmember Andre, the City Council approved 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 7, 2024, regular meeting.
4.3 Appoint Councilmember Stephanie Andre as Larkspur’s voting delegate for the Cal Cities’ Annual Conference in October 2024.
4.4 Adopt Resolution 58/24 approving the plans and specifications and a cooperative agreement with Ross Valley Sanitary District for the Heatherwood Pump Station Rehabilitation Project (CIP 24-303).
4.5 Adopt Resolution 59/24 adopting the Marin County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (2023) and the City of Larkspur Annex.
4.6 Approve the City’s response to the 2023-24 Marin County Civil Grand Jury Report entitled “Cyber Preparedness: Are We There Yet?”
4.7 Adopt Resolution 60/24 authorizing the City Manager to execute an escrow holdback agreement between the City and The Commons Foundation.
5. CITY MANAGER’S ORAL REPORT
City Manager Schwarz provided a report to the Council.
Larkspur City Council
Minutes of September 4, 2024
6. COUNCILMEMBERS’ ORAL REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Councilmember Andre reported on the following items:
1. Ad Hoc Committee to Review the City’s Membership in the California Community Housing Authority (CALCHA)
2. Renewable Energy Options for Larkspur Library Plan
Mayor Candell reported on the following items:
1. Police and Fire Labor Negotiations
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS
7.1 ADOPTION OF THE 2040 GENERAL PLAN, 2023-2031 HOUSING ELEMENT,
AND CERTIFICATION OF FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
Council to consider the adoption of Resolution 61/24 certifying the final EIR and Resolution 62/24 adopting the General Plan and Housing Element.
Community Development Director Semonian provided a presentation. Community Development Director Semonian, City Manager Schwarz, City Attorney Woodruff, and Senior Planner Othon answered questions from the Council.
Public comment was received from:
• Gerald Young
• Terri
• Nicole Cernich
• James Holmes
• Nancy
• Ansi
• David Moller
• Richard Atwood
• Jeff Candrian
• Amy
Upon motion by Councilmember Paulson, and seconded by Vice Mayor Way, the City Council approved Resolution 61/24 certifying the final environmental impact report for the 2040 General Plan, Safety Element, and 2023-2031 Housing Element; and adopting findings and a statement of overriding considerations, mitigation measures, and mitigation monitoring and reporting program. The vote was unanimously in favor.
Upon motion by Councilmember Andre, and seconded by Councilmember Paulson, the City Council approved Resolution 62/24 to adopt a General Plan amendment to repeal the 1990 General Plan and 2015-2023 City of Larkspur Housing Element and adopt the 2040 General Plan, 2023-2031 Housing Element, and incorporate the Marin County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan and Larkspur Annex by reference, incorporating changes necessary to reflect the reversion of Site N (Lucky’s Shopping Center) to have a provision of a residential density of 21 units/acre with the incentive to have by-right development if a grocery store of at least 7,500 square feet is included in the development and additional provisions related to parking and operations of delivery vehicles. The vote was unanimously in favor.
7.2 URGENCY ORDINANCE AND STANDARD ORDINANCE TO IMPLEMENT THE 2040 GENERAL PLAN AND 2023-2031 HOUSING ELEMENT PROGRAMS AND
REZONING
Council to consider adoption of Urgency Ordinance 1078, and approving the introduction and waiving first reading of Ordinance 1079, to implement the General Plan and Housing Element programs and rezoning.
Community Development Director Semonian provided a staff report and answered questions from the Council.
Upon motion by Vice Mayor Way, and seconded by Councilmember Paulson, the Council adopted Urgency Ordinance 1078 adopting Chapter 18.101 (Housing Priority Overlay Zone) and amending various chapters of Title 18 (Zoning) of the Larkspur Municipal Code to implement programs of the 2040 General Plan and 2023-2031 Housing Element, incorporating changes to the provisions for Site N to allow for streamlined review of an application that includes a grocery store of at least 7,500 square feet and includes the parking and vehicle delivery operation requirements from the prior draft of the Housing Element. The vote was unanimously in favor.
Larkspur City Council
Minutes of September 4, 2024
Upon motion by Vice Mayor Way, and seconded by Councilmember Paulson, the Council approved the introduction and waived first reading Ordinance 1079 adopting Chapter 18.101 (Housing Priority Overlay Zone) and amending various chapters of Title 18 (Zoning) of the Larkspur Municipal Code to implement programs of the 2040 General Plan and 2023-2031 Housing Element, incorporating changes to the provisions for Site N to allow for streamlined review of an application that includes a grocery store of at least 7,500 square feet and includes the parking and vehicle delivery operation requirements from the prior draft of the Housing Element. The vote was unanimously in favor.
8. BUSINESS ITEMS
8.1 LARKSPUR RENT REVIEW BOARD COMPOSITION
Council to discuss and provide direction to staff.
City Manager Schwarz presented the staff report and answered questions from the Council.
The Council directed staff to schedule continued discussion of this item to after the November 5, 2024, election on which a citizens’ initiative ballot measure regarding new rent stabilization and tenant protections regulations will be decided by the voters. The Council requested additional information on the cost of a 3rd party providing services for the Rent Review Board and directed staff to continue listing the Rent Review Board volunteer opportunity for the public and accepting applications.
8.2 DISCUSSION ABOUT THE USE OF ZOOM FOR TAKING PUBLIC COMMENT
DURING MEETINGS
Council to discuss and provide direction to staff.
City Manager Schwarz presented the staff report and answered questions from the public.
Public comment was received from:
• James Holmes
The Council elected to resume receiving public comment via Zoom for meetings held in the Larkspur Council Chambers and requested the Council be provided a script to respond to hate speech that may be received during public comment.
9. ADJOURN
The Council adjourned the meeting at 10:10 p.m.
Attested
__________________________
Alison Foulis, City Clerk