Larkspur City Council
Minutes of July 2, 2025
LARKSPUR CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
Larkspur City Council Chambers
400 Magnolia Avenue, Larkspur CA
July 2, 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, Chief Building Official Bill Hansell, Assistant City Manager Shannon O’Hare, Senior Planner Alex Othon, City Manager Dan Schwarz, 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
None.
4. APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember Margulies requested Item 4.3 be removed from the Consent Calendar.
Upon motion by Councilmember Candell, and seconded by Councilmember Paulson, the City Council approved the consent calendar, with the exception of Item 4.3, 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 June 18, 2025, special & regular meeting.
4.4 Adopt Resolution 37/25 approving plans and specifications and authorizing bid advertisement for the King Street Wingwall Replacement Project (CIP 25-310).
4.5 Adopt Resolution 38/25 approving the Final Map for Magnolia Village (1133-1169 Magnolia Avenue).
Mayor Way asked for Council comments on Item 4.3.
4.3 Adopt Ordinance 1087 amending Section 2.16.040 (Powers and Duties of the Park and Recreation Commission) of the Larkspur Municipal Code to add public artwork review to the Commission’s power and adopt Resolution 36/25 adopting the Public Art Policy.
Councilmember Margulies requested that a paragraph regarding an appeal procedure with the City Manager be removed from the Public Art Policy.
Upon motion by Councilmember Margulies, and seconded by Councilmember Andre, the City Council considered adoption of Ordinance 1087 amending Section 2.16.040 (Powers and Duties of the Park and Recreation Commission) of the Larkspur Municipal Code to add public artwork review to the Commission’s power and adopting Resolution 36/25 adopting the Public Art Policy
Larkspur City Council
Minutes of July 2, 2025
including an amendment to remove the paragraph providing an appeal procedure with the City Manager. The vote failed 2-3 (Councilmembers Candell, Paulson, and Mayor Way opposed).
Upon motion by Councilmember Candell, and seconded by Councilmember Paulson, the City Council adopted Ordinance 1087 amending Section 2.16.040 (Powers and Duties of the Park and Recreation Commission) of the Larkspur Municipal Code to add public artwork review to the Commission’s power and adopted Resolution 36/25 adopting the Public Art Policy as presented in the staff report. The vote was approved 3-2 (Councilmember Margulies and Vice Mayor Andre opposed).
5. CITY MANAGER’S ORAL REPORT
City Manager Schwarz provided a report to the Council.
6. COUNCILMEMBERS’ ORAL REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Councilmember Paulson reported on the following items:
1. Transportation Authority of Marin
Vice Mayor Andre reported on the following items:
1. Sea Level Rise Governance Steering Committee
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS
7.1 APPEAL OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION DECISION TO APPROVE APPLICATION PLN25-009; 201 HAWTHORNE AVENUE; APN NO. 020-222-06:
A REQUEST FOR DESIGN REVIEW, FLOOR AREA RATIO EXCEPTION,
SLOPE USE PERMIT & HERITAGE TREE REMOVAL TO PERMIT THE
DEMOLITION OF THE EXISTING RESIDENCE AND CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW 3,444 SQUARE FOOT, TWO-STORY, SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE WITH AN ATTACHED 483 SQUARE FOOT TWO-CAR GARAGE; SAMINA SAUDE, APPLICANT; DAVID GOLDBERG & HEATHER BERNSTEIN, OWNERS;
WILLIAM C. WEBB, APPELLANT.
Council to conduct a public hearing and consider adopting Resolution 39/25 upholding the Planning Commission’s approval of the project.
Vice Mayor Andre announced that she will recuse herself from the item and left the Council Chambers.
Senior Planner Othon provided a presentation and answered questions from the Council.
Mayor Way opened the public hearing.
Appellant William Webb presented the appeal.
Property Owners Heather Bernstein and David Goldberg and Project Architect Samina Saude presented information about the project application.
Public comment was received from:
• Conrad Gann
• Megan Bettor
• David Moller
Seeing no one else wishing to comment, Mayor Way closed the public hearing.
Upon motion by Councilmember Paulson, and seconded by Councilmember Candell, the City Council approved Resolution 39/25 upholding the Planning Commission approval of Application No. PLN 25-009 for 201 Hawthorne Avenue, Larkspur, proposing to construct a new 3,444 square foot residence with an attached 483 square foot garage. The vote was unanimous in favor (Andre recused).
Vice Mayor Andre returned to the Council Chambers.
8. BUSINESS ITEMS
8.1 REVIEW OF PREFERENTIAL PARKING PROGRAM INTENDED TO DETER
OVERFLOW PARKING BY REDWOOD HIGH STUDENTS
Larkspur City Council
Minutes of July 2, 2025
Council to provide direction to staff on the future of the preferential parking permit program in the Larkspur Marina and Heather Gardens neighborhoods.
City Manager Schwarz and City Clerk Foulis presented the staff report and answered questions from the Council.
Public comment was received from:
• Amir Movafaghi
The Council did not desire to implement a permit fee at the time, but directed staff to continue monitoring the costs of the program should it need to be reevaluated to recoup costs. Staff will continue to conduct surveys with program residents, monitor program costs, and bring updates on the program to the Council annually.
8.2 STATUS OF PROPOSED ASSEMBLY BILL 306 AND IMPLICATIONS FOR AMENDMENTS OF THE CITY’S BUILDING CODE
Council to receive a presentation provide feedback.
City Manager Schwarz provided a presentation and answered questions from the Council.
Public comment was received from:
• David Moller
The Council decided to schedule a special meeting on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at 5:00 PM to consider introduction of an ordinance related to amendments to the City’s building code.
9. ADJOURN
The Council adjourned the meeting at 9:15 p.m.
Attested
__________________________
Alison Foulis, City Clerk