Larkspur City Council
Minutes of October 16, 2024
LARKSPUR CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
Larkspur City Council Chambers
400 Magnolia Avenue, Larkspur CA
October 16, 2024
For full video/audio of the meeting, go to http://www.cityoflarkspur.org (Quick Links – Watch City Council Meetings)
SPECIAL MEETING
1. ROLL CALL
Mayor Candell called the special meeting to order at 6:03 p.m.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Stephanie Andre, Gabe Paulson, Catherine Way, and Mayor Scot Candell
COUNCIL ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: City Clerk Alison Foulis and City Manager Dan Schwarz
2. BUSINESS ITEM
2.1 INTERVIEWS FOR LARKSPUR LIBRARY BOARD (1 VACANCY) AND
LARKSPUR REPRESENTATIVE TO THE MARIN COUNTY COMMISSION ON AGING (1 VACANCY).
The Council interviewed Anjali Ahearn for the vacancy on the Larkspur Library Board. There were no applicants to interview for the Marin County Commission on Aging.
3. ADJOURN TO REGULAR MEETING
Mayor Candell adjourned the special meeting.
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: City Clerk Alison Foulis, Assistant City Manager Shannon O’Hare, Associate Planner Jackie Oneal, 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:
• Carlo Cannel
• Jay Holland, Larkspur Chamber of Commerce
• Liam McMillan
• Hilary Culhane
Larkspur City Council
Minutes of October 16, 2024
3. PRESENTATIONS
3.1 Larkspur Community Foundation Update
Laura Anderson, President, and Molly Wuthrich, Treasurer, of the Larkspur Community Foundation provided an update on the activities of the Foundation.
4. APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember Paulson requested Item 4.6 be removed from the consent calendar for discussion.
A member of the public requested Item 4.5 be removed from the consent calendar for discussion.
Upon motion by Vice Mayor Way, and seconded by Councilmember Paulson, the City Council approved Items 4.1 through 4.4 of 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 October 1, 2024, special and regular meeting.
4.3 Approve minutes of the October 2, 2024, special meeting.
4.4 Adopt Resolution 71/24 awarding a consultant services agreement to Urban37 for on-call Community Development Department staffing and services.
Mayor Candell called for reports on Items 4.6 and 4.5.
4.6 Adopt Resolution 72/24 affirming the City Council’s support for construction of projects to enhance and expand the North-South Greenway.
City Manager Schwarz presented the staff report and answered questions from the Council.
Upon motion by Councilmember Andre, and seconded by Councilmember Paulson, the City Council approved Resolution 72/24 affirming the City Council’s support for construction projects to enhance and expand the North-South Greenway. The vote was unanimously in favor.
4.5 Adopt Ordinance 1080 amending Section 6.30.040 of the Larkspur Municipal Code to allow property owners to change the terms of a tenancy to comply with third- party public or private regulatory requirements.
City Manager Schwarz presented the staff report.
Public comment was received from:
• Anne Clark
Upon motion by Councilmember Andre, and seconded by Vice Mayor Way, the City Council adopted Ordinance 1080 amending Section 6.30.040 of the Larkspur Municipal Code to allow property owners to change the terms of a tenancy to comply with third-party public and private regulatory requirements. The vote was 3-1 in favor (Councilmember Paulson opposed).
5. CITY MANAGER’S ORAL REPORT
City Manager Schwarz provided a report to the Council.
6. COUNCILMEMBERS’ ORAL REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Vice Mayor Way reported on the following items:
1. Countywide Community Development Block Grant Committee
2. Central Marin Fire Council
3. Larkspur Community Foundation
Councilmember Paulson reported on the following items:
1. Boy Scout Troop 43
2. 10/16/2024 SMART Board of Directors Meeting
Larkspur City Council
Minutes of October 16, 2024
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS
7.1 INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE 1081 AMENDING TITLE 18 (ZONING) OF
THE LARKSPUR MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADD DEFINITIONS FOR SCHOOLS
AND INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES, ESTABLISH PARKING REGULATIONS
FOR GYMS AND FITNESS CENTERS, AND SPECIFY DISTRICTS WHERE
THEY ARE A PERMITTED OR CONDITIONALLY PERMITTED USE
Council to conduct a public hearing and consider introducing and waiving the first reading of Ordinance 1081.
Community Development Director Semonian and Associate Planner Oneal provided a presentation and answered questions from the Council.
Mayor Candell opened the public hearing.
Public comment was received from:
• Matthew Hartzell
Seeing no one else wishing to speak, Mayor Candell closed the public hearing.
Upon motion by Vice Mayor Way, and seconded by Councilmember Paulson, the City Council approved the introduction and waived the first reading of Ordinance 1081 amending Title 18 (Zoning) of the Larkspur Municipal Code to add definitions for school and instructional services, establish parking regulations for gyms and fitness centers, and specify districts where they are permitted. The vote was unanimously in favor. The Council requested Planning staff review Larkspur’s parking requirements generally.
8. BUSINESS ITEMS
8.1 CITY OF LARKSPUR COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT, CFD NO. 2024-2 (LARKSPUR LAGOON BULKHEAD REPLACEMENT PROJECT)
Council to consider adoption of the following Resolutions, in order:
A. Resolution 73/24 Resolution of Intention to Establish Community Facilities District No. 2024-2 (Larkspur Lagoon Bulkhead Replacement Project) of the City of Larkspur, to Authorize Levy of a Special Tax to Pay the Costs of Certain Facilities and to Pay Debt Service on Bond Indebtedness.
B. Resolution 74/24 Resolution of Intention to Incur Bond Indebtedness in an Amount not to Exceed $22,000,000 within Proposed Community Facilities District No. 2024-2 (Larkspur Lagoon Bulkhead Replacement Project) of the City of Larkspur.
Council to consider introducing and waiving the first reading of:
C. Ordinance 1082 Dissolving Community Facilities District No. 2024-1 (Larkspur Lagoon Bulkhead Replacement Project) of the City of Larkspur.
City Manager Schwarz provided a staff report. Mr. Schwarz and Wulff Hansen financial advisor Mark Pressman answered questions from the Council.
Public comment was received from:
• James Holmes
Upon motion by Mayor Candell, and seconded by Councilmember Paulson, the City Council approved the introduction and waived the first reading of Ordinance 1082 dissolving Community Facilities District No. 2024-1 (Larkspur Lagoon Bulkhead Replacement Project) of the City of Larkspur. The vote was unanimously in favor.
Upon motion by Mayor Candell, and seconded by Councilmember Andre, the City Council adopted Resolution 73/24 a Resolution of Intention to Establish Community Facilities District No. 2024-2 (Larkspur Lagoon Bulkhead Replacement Project) of the City of Larkspur, to Authorize Levy of a Special Tax to Pay the Costs of Certain Facilities and to Pay Debt Service on Bond Indebtedness and Resolution 74/24 a Resolution of Intention to Incur Bond Indebtedness in an Amount not to Exceed $22,000,000 within Proposed Community Facilities District No. 2024-2 (Larkspur Lagoon Bulkhead Replacement Project) of the City of Larkspur. The vote was unanimously in favor.
Larkspur City Council
Minutes of October 16, 2024
8.2 ADOPT A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE FY 2024/2025 CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM BUDGET FOR PROJECTS RELATED TO THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMMONS IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,399,000.
Public Works Director Skinner provided a presentation and answered questions from the Council.
Public comment was received from:
• Ann Morrison, The Commons Foundation
• David Moller
• Robin Moller
Upon motion by Councilmember Paulson, and seconded by Vice Mayor Way, the City Council adopted Resolution 75/24 amending the FY 2024/2025 Capital Improvement Program budget for The Commons Project in the amount of $1,399,000. The vote was unanimously in favor.
8.3 DISCUSSION OF FORMATION OF ADVISORY BODY DEDICATED TO
CLIMATE AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Assistant City Manager O’Hare provided a presentation and answered questions from the Council.
Public comment was received from:
• David Moller
• James Holmes
It was the direction of the Council that staff solicit public participation on the issues of sustainability, climate and the environment to provide comments at a public meeting on January 15, 2025, on potential models for the City to follow.
9. ADJOURN
The Council adjourned the meeting at 10:20 p.m.
Attested
__________________________
Alison Foulis, City Clerk