Larkspur City Council
Minutes of October 1, 2025
LARKSPUR CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
Larkspur City Council Chambers
400 Magnolia Avenue, Larkspur CA
October 1, 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 5:30 p.m.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Stephanie Andre, Sarah Margulies, Gabe Paulson and Mayor Catherine Way
COUNCIL ABSENT: Scot Candell
STAFF PRESENT: City Clerk Alison Foulis, Assistant City Manager Shannon O’Hare, City Manager Dan Schwarz, and Assistant City Attorney Schuyler Schwartz
ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Way adjourned the meeting to closed session.
2. CLOSED SESSION
2.1 CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
(Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6)
Agency designated representatives: City Manager Dan Schwarz and Assistant City Manager Shannon O’Hare
Employee Organization: Larkspur Miscellaneous Employees Association
RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION AND ANNOUNCE ANY REPORTABLE ACTION
Mayor Way reconvened the meeting in open session at 6:33 p.m. and announced that there was no reportable action.
3. ADJOURN TO REGULAR MEETING
Mayor Way adjourned to the regular meeting at 6:33 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING
1. ROLL CALL & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Way called the regular meeting to order at 6:33 p.m.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Stephanie Andre, Sarah Margulies, Gabe Paulson and Mayor Catherine Way
COUNCIL ABSENT: Scot Candell
STAFF PRESENT: City Clerk Alison Foulis, Assistant City Manager Shannon O’Hare, Senior Planner Alex Othon, City Manager Dan Schwarz, and Assistant City Attorney Schuyler Schwartz
Mayor Way led the pledge of allegiance.
Larkspur City Council
Minutes of October 1, 2025
2. PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comment was received from:
• Ted Horton, requesting removal of Item 4.3 from the consent calendar • Sergio Barajas
• Grace Rainwater
3. PRESENTATIONS & PROCLAMATIONS
None
4. APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR
Vice Mayor Andre and a member of the public requested Item 4.3 be removed from the consent calendar.
Upon motion by Councilmember Paulson, and seconded by Vice Mayor Andre, the City Council approved Items 4.1 and 4.2 of the consent calendar in one motion. The vote was unanimously in favor (Candell absent). The approved consent calendar consisted of the following items:
4.1 Approve warrants.
4.2 Approve minutes of the September 17, 2025, regular meeting.
Mayor Way called for a staff report on Item 4.3.
4.3 Adopt Resolution 48/25 approving Amendment No. 13 to the City Manager’s Employment Agreement.
City Manager Schwarz presented the staff report and members of the Council provided comments on the item. Assistant City Attorney Schwartz provided information.
Public comment was received from:
• Ted Horton
• Grace Rainwater
• James Holmes
A motion put forward by Councilmember Paulson, and seconded by Councilmember Margulies, to adopt Resolution 48/25 approving Amendment No. 13 to the City Manager’s Employment Agreement failed. The vote failed 2-1-1-1 with Way and Paulson in favor, Andre opposed, Margulies abstained, and Candell absent. The item will be rescheduled for further discussion at a future meeting.
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. Climate Related Items (e.g. Clean Fleet Week Expo)
2. Transportation Authority of Marin Safe Routes to School
Councilmember Margulies reported on the following items:
1. Marin Women’s Political Action Committee
Vice Mayor Andre reported on the following items:
1. 10/7/2025 City Hall Renovation Project Workshop
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS
7.1 APPEAL OF HERITAGE TREE REMOVAL 33 HILLCREST AVENUE APN 020-033-42
PROPERTY OWNER/APPELLANT: BRENNAN DEMRO
Council to hold a public hearing and consider upholding staff’s determination and penalties associated with the unpermitted removal of a Heritage Tree at 33 Hillcrest Avenue and authorize the imposition of a special assessment and lien on
Larkspur City Council
Minutes of October 1, 2025
the property, to be collected with regular property taxes, if penalties remain unpaid on November 4, 2025.
Senior Planner Othon provided a presentation and answered questions from the Council.
Mayor Way opened the public hearing and Appellant Brennan Demro presented his appeal and answered questions from the Council.
Public comment was received from:
• James Holmes
• Grace Rainwater
Seeing no one else wishing to comment, Mayor Way closed the public hearing.
A motion put forward by Councilmember Margulies, and seconded by Councilmember Paulson, to approve an amended penalty associated with the unpermitted removal of a Heritage Tree at 33 Hillcrest Avenue, calculated at one time the value of the tree ($3,200) and the staff time recovery costs for the arborist ($513.30) and code enforcement officer ($289.80) as well as require the property owner to plant a 24-inch box valley oak tree on their property or work with the City to cover the cost of planting the tree at a City park failed. The vote failed 2-2-1 with Paulson and Margulies in favor, Andre and Way opposed, and Candell absent.
Upon motion by Councilmember Andre, and seconded by Councilmember Paulson, the City Council approved an amended penalty associated with the unpermitted removal of a Heritage Tree at 33 Hillcrest Avenue, calculated to include only a total $3200 penalty fine, waiving recovery of the arborist and code enforcement officer costs, and not requiring a replacement tree be planted, and authorizing the imposition of a special assessment and lien on the property, to be collected with regular property taxes, if penalties remain unpaid on November 4, 2025. The vote was approved 3-1-1, with Paulson, Andre, and Way in favor, Margulies opposed, and Candell absent.
7.2 10 WALNUT AVENUE
7.2A APPEAL OF HERITAGE TREE REMOVAL 10 WALNUT AVENUE
APN 021-103-14
PROPERTY OWNER/APPELLANT: ANTON HARAMIS;
Council to hold a public hearing and consider upholding staff’s determination and penalties associated with the unpermitted removal of a Heritage Tree at 10 Walnut Avenue and authorize the imposition of a special assessment and lien on the property, to be collected with regular property taxes, if penalties remain unpaid on November 4, 2025.
Senior Planner Othon provided a presentation and answered questions from the Council.
Mayor Way opened the public hearing and Appellant Anton Haramis presented his appeal and answered questions from the Council.
Public comment was received from:
• Grace Rainwater
• James Holmes
Seeing no one else wishing to comment, Mayor Way closed the public hearing.
Upon motion by Mayor Way, and seconded by Vice Mayor Andre, the City Council upheld staff’s determination that the property owner violated LMC §12.16.070 and upheld the $56,335.20 penalty associated with the unpermitted removal of a heritage tree at 10 Walnut Avenue, required retention of a 16” bay tree that was previously approved for removal, and authorized the imposition of a special assessment or lien on the property to be collected with regular property taxes, if penalties remain unpaid on February 1, 2026. The vote was unanimously in favor (Candell absent).
7.2B LIEN OR SPECIAL ASSESSMENT FOR UNPAID ADMINISTRATIVE CITATIONS AT 10 WALNUT AVENUE
APN 021-103-14
PROPERTY OWNER: ANTON HARAMIS
Council to consider directing City Manager to file lien or special assessment against 10 Walnut Avenue, APN 021-103-14, for $9,930 for unpaid administrative citations if fines remain unpaid on October 15, 2025.
Larkspur City Council
Minutes of October 1, 2025
Senior Planner Othon provided a presentation and answered questions from the Council.
Mayor Way opened the public hearing and Property Owner Anton Haramis answered questions from the Council.
Seeing no one else wishing to comment, Mayor Way closed the public hearing.
Upon motion by Councilmember Margulies, and seconded by Councilmember Paulson, the City Council directed the City Manager to file a lien or special assessment against 10 Walnut Avenue, APN 021-103-14, for $9,930 in unpaid administrative citations if fines remain unpaid on October 15, 2025. The vote was unanimously in favor (Candell absent).
Mayor Way called for a brief 5-minute recess before reconvening the meeting.
7.3 INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE 1091 AMENDING LARKSPUR MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTERS 18.20 AND 18.100 FOR UP TO TWO-UNIT DEVELOPMENTS
AND LOT SPLITS IN SINGLE FAMILY ZONING DISTRICTS
Council to conduct a public hearing and consider introducing by title only and waiving further reading of Ordinance 1091.
Senior Planner Othon provided a presentation and answered questions from the Council.
Mayor Way opened the public hearing.
Public comment was received from:
• Matt Popovich
Seeing no one else wishing to comment, Mayor Way closed the public hearing.
Upon motion by Vice Mayor Andre, and seconded by Councilmember Paulson, the City Council introduced by title only and waived further reading of Ordinance 1091 amending Title 18 of the City of Larkspur Municipal Code Chapter 18.20 to provide objective standards for ministerial housing development in R-1 Districts and amending Chapter 18.100 regulating two-unit residential developments and lot splits in single-family zoning districts pursuant to Government Code Sections 65852.21 And 66411.7. The vote was unanimously in favor (Candell absent).
8. BUSINESS ITEMS
None
9. ADJOURN
The Council adjourned the meeting at 10:00 p.m. in memory of longtime Larkspur resident Nancy Curley.
Attested
__________________________
Alison Foulis, City Clerk