Larkspur City Council
Minutes of November 5, 2025
LARKSPUR CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
Larkspur City Council Chambers
400 Magnolia Avenue, Larkspur CA
November 5, 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 5:32 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, City Manager Dan Schwarz, and City Attorney Sky Woodruff
ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Way adjourned the meeting to closed session.
2. CLOSED SESSION
2.1 CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Section 54956.9(d)(2): One potential case
2.2 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 6:31 p.m. and announced that there was no reportable action.
3. ADJOURN TO REGULAR MEETING
Mayor Way adjourned to the regular meeting at 6:31 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING
1. ROLL CALL & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Way called the regular meeting to order at 6:31 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, Central Marin Fire Chief Ruben Martin, 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.
Larkspur City Council
Minutes of November 5, 2025
2. PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comment was received from:
• James Holmes
3. PRESENTATIONS & PROCLAMATIONS
3.1 Climate Action Forum Update.
City Manager Schwarz requested the item be deferred to a future agenda.
4. APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember Candell removed Item 4.3 from the consent calendar.
Upon motion by Councilmember Paulson, and seconded by Councilmember Candell, the City Council approved Items 4.1 and 4.2 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 15, 2025, regular meeting.
Mayor Way introduced Item 4.3.
4.3 Authorize the Mayor to send a letter to the Bay Area Air District Board of Directors supporting the zero-emission building appliance rules.
The City Council discussed Item 4.3.
Upon motion by Vice Mayor Andre, and seconded by Councilmember Margulies, the City Council authorized the Mayor to send a letter to the Bay Area Air District Board of Directors supporting the zero-emission building appliance rules. The vote was unanimously in favor.
5. CITY MANAGER’S ORAL REPORT
City Manager Schwarz provided a report to the Council and provided a presentation.
6. COUNCILMEMBERS’ ORAL REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Vice Mayor Andre reported on the following items:
1. MCE Marin Clean Energy
Councilmember Paulson reported on the following items:
1. MCE Marin Clean Energy
Mayor Way reported on the following items:
1. Veteran’s Day Memorial Ceremony
2. Marin Primary and Middle School 50-year Anniversary Proclamation
3. Community Holiday Events
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS
7.1A ADOPT ORDINANCE 1092 REPEALING AND RE-ENACTING CHAPTER 14.04, ADOPTING THE 2025 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE AND 2024 INTERNATIONAL
FIRE CODE WITH AMENDMENTS SUPPORTED BY LOCAL FINDINGS,
PRESCRIBING REGULATIONS GOVERNING CONDITIONS HAZARDOUS TO LIFE AND PROPERTY FROM FIRE OR EXPLOSION; PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PERMITS FOR HAZARDOUS USES OR OPERATIONS; AND
DEFINE THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE CENTRAL MARIN FIRE
AUTHORITY AND OFFICERS
Council to hold a public hearing and consider adoption of Ordinance 1092.
Central Marin Fire Chief Martin presented the staff report and answered questions from the Council.
Mayor Way opened the public hearing and, seeing no one wishing to speak, closed the public hearing.
Larkspur City Council
Minutes of November 5, 2025
Upon motion by Councilmember Candell, and seconded by Councilmember Paulson, the City Council adopted Ordinance 1092 repealing and re-enacting Chapter 14.04 of the Larkspur Municipal Code, adopting the 2025 California Fire Code and the 2024 International Fire Code with amendments supported by local findings, prescribing regulations governing conditions hazardous to life and property from fire or explosion, providing for the issuance of permits for hazardous uses or operations, and defining the powers and duties of the Central Marin Fire Authority and Officers.
The vote was unanimously in favor.
7.1B ADOPT ORDINANCE 1093 REPEALING AND RE-ENACTING CHAPTER 14.10, ADOPTING THE 2025 EDITION OF THE CALIFORNIA WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE CODE AND 2024 INTERNATIONAL WILDLAND URBAN
INTERFACE CODE WITH AMENDMENTS SUPPORTED BY LOCAL FINDINGS,
PRESCRIBING REGULATIONS GOVERNINGTHE MITIGATION OF HAZARD
TO LIFE AND PROPERTY FROM THE INTRUSION OF FIRE FROM WILDFIRE
EXPOSURES, FROM ADJACENT STRUCTURES AND PREVENTION OF
STRUCTURE FIRES FROM SPREADING TO WILDLAND FUELS IN THE CITY OF LARKSPUR; AND FURTHER PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF
PERMITS AND DEFINING THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE CENTRAL
MARIN FIRE AUTHORITY AND OFFICERS
Council to hold a public hearing and consider adoption of Ordinance 1093.
Central Marin Fire Chief Martin presented the staff report and answered questions from the Council.
Mayor Way opened the public hearing.
Public comment was received from:
• James Holmes
Seeing no one else wishing to speak, Mayor Way closed the public hearing.
Upon motion by Councilmember Paulson, and seconded by Councilmember Margulies, the City Council adopted Ordinance 1093 repealing and re-enacting Chapter 14.10 of the Larkspur Municipal Code, adopting the 2025 edition of the California Wildland Urban Interface Code and 2024 International Wildland Urban Interface Code with amendments supported by local findings, prescribing regulations governing the mitigation of hazard to life and property from the intrusion of fire from wildfire exposures from adjacent structures and prevention of structure fires from spreading to wildland fuels in the City of Larkspur; and further providing the issuance of permits and defining the powers and duties of the Central Marin Fire Authority and Officers. The vote was unanimously in favor.
7.2 INTRODUCE AND WAIVE FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE 1094 AMENDING
VARIOUS SECTIONS OF THE LARKSPUR MUNICIPAL CODE
Council to hold a public hearing and consider waiving the first reading and introducing Ordinance 1094 amending various sections of the Municipal Code for a general municipal code cleanup ordinance.
City Clerk Foulis presented the staff report and City Manager Schwarz answered questions from the Council.
Mayor Way opened the public hearing and, seeing no one else wishing to speak, closed the public hearing.
The Council continued the item to the next regular meeting for further consideration of the proposed ordinance language of Section 14 of the ordinance related to Fire Inspection Resale Report requirements.
8. BUSINESS ITEMS
8.1 APPOINTING ONE MEMBER OF COUNCIL TO PLANNING COMMISSION
FLOOR AREA RATIO (FAR) SUBCOMITTEE
Council to consider appointing one of its members to the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) Subcommittee.
Senior Planner Othon presented the staff report and answered questions from the Council.
Mayor Way appointed Councilmember Margulies, with Councilmember Candell serving as the alternate, to the Planning Commission’s Floor Area Ratio (FAR) subcommittee.
Larkspur City Council
Minutes of November 5, 2025
8.2 LARKSPUR LIBRARY AT THE COMMONS BUDGET AMENDMENT,
INCLUDING FOR ADDITIONAL LANDSCAPE IMPPROVEMENTS AT THE SITE Council to consider adoption of a resolution amending the FY25/26 Capital Improvement Program for the Larkspur Library at The Commons Project and provide direction as to whether to reduce the scope of the remaining project items to reduce the contribution from the General Fund Reserve.
Public Works Director Skinner provided a presentation and answered questions from the Council.
Dana Swisher of Refugia Marin provided a presentation on landscaping options to the Council and answered questions.
Public comment was received from:
• Dr. Jeffrey Swisher
Upon motion by Councilmember Margulies, and seconded by Councilmember Candell, the City Council adopted Resolution 51/25 amending the FY 2025/2026 Capital Improvement Program Budget in the amount of $1,670,713 for the Larkspur Library at The Commons Project. The vote was unanimously in favor.
9. ADJOURN
The Council adjourned the meeting at 8:31 p.m.
Attested
__________________________
Alison Foulis, City Clerk