Larkspur City Council
Minutes of June 4, 2025
LARKSPUR CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
Larkspur City Council Chambers
400 Magnolia Avenue, Larkspur CA
June 4, 2025
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 Way called the regular meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Stephanie Andre, Scot Candell, Sarah Margulies, Gabe Paulson and Mayor Catherine Way
COUNCIL ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: City Clerk Alison Foulis, Administrative Services Director Emilia Gabriele, 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 Way led the pledge of allegiance.
2. PUBLIC COMMENT
No one from the public wished to comment.
3. PRESENTATIONS
3.1 LARKSPUR 2023 ANNUAL GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS INVENTORY
Assistant City Manager O’Hare introduced Christine O’Rourke, Marin Climate & Energy Partnership (MCEP), who provided a presentation to the City Council on Larkspur’s 2023 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory.
4. APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR
Upon motion by Councilmember Candell, and seconded by Councilmember Margulies, 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 May 21, 2025, special and regular meeting.
4.3 Adopt Ordinance 1086 authorizing the Marin Electric Bicycle Safety Pilot Program.
4.4 Receive the 2025 ADA Transition Plan Update.
5. CITY MANAGER’S ORAL REPORT
City Manager Schwarz provided a report to the Council.
6. COUNCILMEMBERS’ ORAL REPORTS AND COMMENTS
There were no Councilmember oral reports.
Larkspur City Council
Minutes of June 4, 2025
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS
7.1 APPEAL OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION DECISION TO APPROVE APPLICATION PLN25-008; 64 FRANCES AVENUE; APN NO. 020-061-11: A
REQUEST FOR DESIGN REVIEW, FLOOR AREA RATIO EXCEPTION, SLOPE
USE PERMIT, SETBACK VARIANCE, HERITAGE TREE REMOVAL, & FENCE HEIGHT EXCEPTION TO PERMIT THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW 2,188 SQ.
FT. TWO-STORY SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE WITH A DETACHED 479 SQUARE FOOT GARAGE; JENNIFER HAUG, APPLICANT; 64 FRANCES, LLC, PROPERTY OWNER; PHILIP HARRIS, APPELLANT.
Council to conduct a public hearing and consider adopting Resolution 22/25 upholding the Planning Commission’s approval of the project.
Senior Planner Othon provided a presentation and answered questions from the Council.
Mayor Way opened the public hearing.
Katie Johansen Taber, Carlo Khatchi, Christy Chandler, and Phillip Harris (representing appellants Philip Harris, Robert Mitchell, Bahram & Etty Derakhshani, Carlo Khatchi, June Maselbas & Raymond Katz, Katherine Johansen & Todd C. Taber, Marjan Sobhani & Kirk B., Christy Chandler, Tamsen McCracken, and Shane & Kacey Zuvella) presented the appeal.
Project Architect Jennifer Haug and Property Owner Hau Yeung presented information about the project.
Public comment was received from:
• Dan Orsine
• James Holmes
Phillip Harris and Todd Taber provided a rebuttal on behalf of the appellants. Property Owner Hau Yeung provided a rebuttal on behalf of the project applicants.
Seeing no one else wishing to comment, Mayor Way closed the public hearing.
Upon motion by Councilmember Candell, and seconded by Councilmember Paulson, the City Council approved Resolution 22/25 upholding the Planning Commission approval of Application No. PLN 25-008 for 64 Frances Avenue, Larkspur, proposing to construct a new 2,188 square foot residence with a detached 479 square foot garage. The vote was unanimously in favor.
7.2 FISCAL YEAR 2025/2026 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AND BUDGET
A. ADOPTION OF PROPOSED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (CIP) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025/2026
Council to adopt Resolution 23/25 adopting the proposed Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for FY 2025/26.
Public Works Director Skinner provided a presentation and answered questions from the Council.
Mayor Way opened the public hearing and received comments from:
• David Moller
• James Holmes
Seeing no one else wishing to speak, Mayor Way closed the public hearing.
Upon motion by Councilmember Candell, and seconded by Councilmember Margulies, the City Council adopted Resolutions 23/25 adopting the Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Capital Improvement Program. The vote was unanimously in favor.
B. ADOPTION OF FISCAL YEAR 2025/2026 BUDGET
Council to adopt the following resolutions:
• Resolution 24/25 Publishing Annual Publication of On-Call Agreements. • Resolution 25/25 Adopting the Investment Policy of the City of Larkspur. • Resolution 26/25 Adopting the Purchasing Policy for the City of Larkspur. • Resolution 27/25 Adopting a General Fund Reserve Policy for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.
• Resolution 28/25 Establishing Appropriation Limitations for the City of Larkspur for the 2025-2026 Fiscal Year Pursuant to Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
• Resolution 29/25 Establishing Authorized Positions in the Competitive Service and Assigning a Salary Range to Each Position.
Larkspur City Council
Minutes of June 4, 2025
• Resolution 30/25 Adopting the Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.
City Manager Schwarz and Administrative Services Director Gabriele presented the budget and answered questions from the Council.
Mayor Way opened the public hearing and, seeing no one wishing to speak, closed the public hearing.
Upon motion by Councilmember Candell, and seconded by Councilmember Paulson, the City Council adopted Resolutions 24/25 through 30/25 adopting the Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Annual Budget, including revising language of Resolution 25/25 to amend the language referencing the “Prudent Man Rule” to the “Prudent Investor Rule”. The vote was unanimously in favor.
8. BUSINESS ITEMS
8.1 LIBRARY AT THE COMMONS – JUNE 2025 PROJECT UPDATE
Council to receive update on the Library at The Commons project, solicit community input, and provide feedback on concepts for the Commons Area and Habitat Garden landscaping.
Public Works Director Skinner provided a presentation and answered questions from the Council.
Public comment was received from:
• Sandy Guldman
• Cindy Winship
• David Moller
• Laura
8.2 TENANT PROTECTION ORDINANCES: UPDATE AND DRAFT ORDINANCE
CODIFYING ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF A RENTAL REGISTRY Council to provide direction.
City Manager Schwarz presented the staff report and answered questions from the Council.
Public comment was received from:
• Bob Gerstenkorn
• William Raudio
• Victor Gomez
• Whitney Prout
• Joshua Howard
• Rick Flowers
• Dennis Gilardi
The time being after 10:30 PM, the Council agreed to continue with the meeting that evening.
It was the direction of the Council to discontinue the administrative implementation of the rental registry program and direct staff to pursue an alternate enforcement mechanism for the existing rent stabilization and tenant protection ordinances.
8.3 APPOINTMENTS TO THE LARKSPUR LIBRARY BOARD.
Council to consider making appointments to the Larkspur Library Board.
The City Council reappointed Anjali Ahearn and Jeff Gunderson to the Larkspur Library Board for an additional term from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2029.
The City Council appointed Susan Faust to the Larkspur Library Board for a term from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2029.
9. ADJOURN
The Council adjourned the meeting at 11:10 p.m.
Attested
__________________________
Alison Foulis, City Clerk