Larkspur City Council
Minutes of September 3, 2025
LARKSPUR CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
Larkspur City Council Chambers
400 Magnolia Avenue, Larkspur CA
September 3, 2025
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 Way called the special meeting to order at 5:01 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, Assistant City Manager Shannon O’Hare, City Manager Dan Schwarz, Community Development Director Elise Semonian, Public Works Director Julian Skinner, and City Attorney Sky Woodruff
ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Way adjourned the meeting to closed session at 5:01 p.m.
2. CLOSED SESSION
2.1 PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
(Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957)
Title: City Manager
RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION AND ANNOUNCE ANY REPORTABLE ACTION
Mayor Way reconvened the meeting in open session at 6:44 p.m. and announced that there was no reportable action.
3. PROCLAMATIONS
3.1 Proclamation honoring Community Development Director Elise Semonian upon her retirement from the City of Larkspur.
Mayor Way read a proclamation honoring retiring Community Development Director Elise Semonian and members of the Council offered their congratulations.
4. ADJOURN TO REGULAR MEETING
Mayor Way adjourned the special meeting at 6:49 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING
1. ROLL CALL & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Way called the regular meeting to order at 6:49 p.m.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Stephanie Andre, Scot Candell, Sarah Margulies, Gabe Paulson and Mayor Catherine Way
COUNCIL ABSENT: None
Larkspur City Council
Minutes of September 3, 2025
STAFF PRESENT: City Clerk Alison Foulis, Assistant City Manager Shannon O’Hare, 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
Public comment was received from:
• Tamara Hull
3. PRESENTATIONS & PROCLAMATIONS
None
4. APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember Paulson requested Item 4.5 be removed from the consent calendar.
Public comment was received from:
• James Holmes, requesting Item 4.5 be removed from the consent calendar
Upon motion by Councilmember Paulson, and seconded by Councilmember Candell, the City Council approved Items 4.1 through 4.4 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 20, 2025, regular meeting.
4.3 Adopt Ordinance 1090 amending Title 18 of the Larkspur Municipal Code to amend Section 18.08.255 (Definition of Floor Area), Section 18.20.050 (Percentage of Lot Coverage), Section 18.35.050 (Maximum and Minimum Floor Areas), and Chapter
18.23 (Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units) to comply with state law.
4.4 Adopt Resolution 44/25 authorizing the City Manager to execute ongoing consulting services agreements with CSG, Urban37, and Phillips Seabrook Associates for Community Development Department staff augmentation.
Mayor Way asked for a report on Item 4.5.
4.5 Adopt Resolution 46/25 approving the sale of certain exempt surplus land between 320 and 330 West Baltimore Avenue, directing the City Manager to execute the deeds for sale, and authorizing the City Manager to execute all documents required, in a form approved by the City Council, to effect said sale.
City Manager Schwarz reviewed the staff report and answered questions from the Council.
Public comment was received from:
• James Holmes
Upon motion by Councilmember Candell, and seconded by Councilmember Paulson, the City Council adopted Resolution 46/25 approving the sale of certain exempt surplus land between 320 and 330 West Baltimore Avenue, directing the City Manager to execute the deeds for sale, and authorizing the City Manager to execute all documents required, in a form approved by the City Council, to effect said sale. The vote was unanimously in favor.
5. CITY MANAGER’S ORAL REPORT
City Manager Schwarz provided a report to the Council.
6. COUNCILMEMBERS’ ORAL REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Councilmember Candell reported on the following items:
1. Redwood High School and Student Parking
Mayor Way reported on the following items:
1. Upcoming Community Events
Larkspur City Council
Minutes of September 3, 2025
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None
8. BUSINESS ITEMS
8.1 LARKSPUR LIBRARY AT THE COMMONS
A. SEPTEMBER 2025 PROJECT UPDATE: BUDGET AMENDMENT
DISCUSSION AND ENHANCED LANDSCAPING OPTIONS
Council to receive an update and provide feedback.
Public Works Director Skinner provided a presentation and answered questions from the Council.
Public Works Director Skinner introduced the RHAA Landscape Architecture & Planning Associate Kossen Miller who provided presentations on The Commons area and a habitat garden to the Council and answered questions. Dana Swisher, Founder and Director of Refugia Marin, answered questions from the Council regarding the habitat garden as well.
Public comment was received from:
• James Holmes
• Laura Lovett
• David Moller
• Sandy Guldman
• Tom Guldman
The Council provided direction that they approved with the general depictions of The Commons area depicted in the presentation that evening. The Council provided additional direction that they would like to further proceed with planning The Habitat Garden Improvements, with staff to return with additional budgetary information at a future meeting.
B. RESOLUTION AMENDING THE FY 2025/2026 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM BUDGET FOR THE ROSE LANE IMPROVEMENTS (CIP 23-103) IN THE AMOUNT OF $525,000 AND AWARDING A CONSTRUCTION
CONTRACT TO BAUMAN LANDSCAPE AND CONSTRUCTION, INC. AS
THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER SUBMITTING THE LOWEST
RESPONSIVE BID IN THE AMOUNT OF $ $1,001,134
Council to consider adoption of Resolution 47/25.
Public Works Director Skinner provided a presentation and answered questions from the Council.
Upon motion by Councilmember Candell, and seconded by Councilmember Margulies, the City Council adopted Resolution 47/25 amending the FY 2025/2026 Capital Improvement Program budget for the Rose Lane Improvements (CIP 23-103) in the amount of $525,000 and awarding a construction contract to Bauman Landscape and Construction, Inc. as the lowest responsive bidder submitting the lowest responsive bid in the amount of $1,001,134. The vote was unanimously in favor.
9. ADJOURN
The Council adjourned the meeting at 9:35 p.m.
Attested
__________________________
Alison Foulis, City Clerk