Larkspur City Council
Minutes of January 7, 2026
LARKSPUR CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
Larkspur City Council Chambers
400 Magnolia Avenue, Larkspur CA
January 7, 2026
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 Andre called the special meeting to order at 6:26 p.m.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Scot Candell, Sarah Margulies, Gabe Paulson, Catherine Way, and Mayor Stephanie Andre
COUNCIL ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: City Clerk Alison Foulis, Central Marin Fire Chief Ruben Martin, Community Development Director Andrew Mogensen, Senior Planner Alex Othon, City Manager Dan Schwarz, Public Works Director Julian Skinner, and City Attorney Sky Woodruff
2. PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING ITEM 3.1 ONLY
There were no comments from the public at this time.
3. BUSINESS ITEM
3.1 Consideration and Possible Action to Adopt Resolution 07/26 Proclaiming a Local Emergency in the City of Larkspur
City Manager Schwarz provided a staff report and answered questions from the Council.
Public comment was received from:
• Ross Asselstine
• David Moller
Upon motion by Councilmember Candell, seconded by Councilmember Way, the Council adopted Resolution 07/26 proclaiming a local emergency in the City of Larkspur. The vote was unanimously in favor.
3. ADJOURN TO REGULAR MEETING
Mayor Andre adjourned to the regular meeting at 6:42 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING
1. ROLL CALL & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Andre called the regular meeting to order at 6:43 p.m.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Scot Candell, Sarah Margulies, Gabe Paulson, Catherine Way, and Mayor Stephanie Andre
COUNCIL ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: City Clerk Alison Foulis, Central Marin Fire Chief Ruben Martin, Community Development Director Andrew Mogensen, Senior Planner Alex Othon, City Manager Dan Schwarz, Public Works Director Julian Skinner, and City Attorney Sky Woodruff
Larkspur City Council
Minutes of January 7, 2026
Mayor Andre led the pledge of allegiance.
2. PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comment was received from:
• Ross Asselstine
• Diana St. James
3. PRESENTATIONS
3.1 Larkspur Corte-Madera School District Presentation: “Safe, Modern Schools Without Increasing Tax Rates.”
Dr. Brett Geithman, Superintendent, and Dr. Megan Atkins, District Business Official, of the Larkspur-Corte Madera School District provided a presentation and answered questions from the Council.
4. APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR
City Attorney Woodruff provided an oral report on the changes to compensation and benefits proposed under Item 4.5.
Upon motion by Councilmember Candell, and seconded by Councilmember Way, 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 December 3, 2025, special & regular meeting.
4.3 Approve minutes of the December 10, 2025, special meeting.
4.4 Adopt Ordinance 1094 amending various sections of the Larkspur Municipal Code for a general code cleanup.
4.5 Adopt Resolution 01/26 defining the Management Unit of Employees and establishing salaries and benefits for members of the Unit.
4.6 Adopt Resolution 02/26 authorizing a request to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for the allocation of FY 2026/27 Transportation Development Act Article 3 Pedestrian/Bicycle Project Funding and adopt Resolution 03/26 amending the FY 2025/26 Capital Improvement Program budget in the amount of $125,000 for the Pathway Repaving 2025 Project.
5. CITY MANAGER’S ORAL REPORT
City Manager Schwarz provided a report and presentation to the Council.
6. COUNCILMEMBERS’ ORAL REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Councilmember Paulson reported on the following items:
1. Flood Zone 9
2. Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM)
Councilmember Way reported on the following items:
1. Appreciation for Mayor Andre during the recent flooding
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS
7.1 FIRE PROTECTION IMPACT FEE
Council to hold a public hearing and consider taking the following actions, in order:
A. ADOPT RESOLUTION 04/26 ADOPTING THE FIRE PROTECTION
IMPACT FEE NEXUS STUDY
B. ADOPT ORDINANCE 1095 AMENDING THE LARKSPUR MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADD CHAPTER 3.36 TO ESTABLISH A FIRE PROTECTION
IMPACT FEE ON BEHALF OF THE CENTRAL MARIN FIRE AUTHORITY
C. ADOPT RESOLUTION 05/26 ADOPTING A FIRE PROTECTION IMPACT FEE IN THE CITY’S SCHEDULE OF USER AND REGULATORY FEES
Senior Planner Othon and Fire Chief Martin presented the staff report and answered questions from the Council.
Larkspur City Council
Minutes of January 7, 2026
Mayor Andre opened the public hearing and the Council received public comment from James Holmes. Seeing no one else wishing to speak, Mayor Andre closed the public hearing.
Upon motion by Councilmember Way, and seconded by Councilmember Candell, the Council adopted Resolution 04/26 adopting the Fire Protection Impact Fee Nexus Study. The vote was unanimously in favor.
Upon motion by Councilmember Way, and seconded by Councilmember Candell, the Council adopted Ordinance 1095 amending the Larkspur Municipal Code to add Chapter 3.36 to establish a Fire Protection Impact Fee on behalf of the Central Marin Fire Authority. The vote was unanimously in favor.
Upon motion by Councilmember Way, and seconded by Councilmember Candell, the Council adopted Resolution 05/26 adopting a Fire Protection Impact Fee in the City’s Schedule of User and Regulatory Fees. The vote was unanimously in favor.
8. BUSINESS ITEMS
8.1 REQUEST FOR ADDITION TO UNFUNDED PROJECTS LIST IN THE CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FROM THE LARKSPUR COMMUNITY
FOUNDATION FOR MINI-PARK IMPROVEMENTS AT THE BASE OF THE
ARCH STREET STEPS
Council to receive a presentation from the Larkspur Community Foundation and provide direction to staff.
City Manager Schwarz provided an introduction to the item. Laura Anderson, Alicia Alexander, and Jen Tippet of the Larkspur Community Foundation provided a presentation and answered questions from the Council.
Public comment was received from:
• James Holmes
The City Council directed staff to add the Larkspur Community Foundation’s proposed mini-park at the base of the Arch Street Steps on the City’s unfunded projects list in the Capital Improvement Program.
8.2 REQUEST FOR MONIES FROM TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX FUND (BUSINESS ENHANCEMENT FUND) FROM THE LARKSPUR CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE
Council to consider request from the Larkspur Chamber of Commerce.
City Manager Schwarz presented the staff report. Marty Murphy, Executive Director, and Julie Richards, Treasurer, of the Larkspur Chamber of Commerce, presented their request and answered questions from the Council.
Public comment was received from:
• Jay Holland
• Reide Baxter
Upon motion by Councilmember Way, seconded by Councilmember Candell, the Council adopted Resolution 06/26 amending the FY 2025-26 budget to allocate $20,000 to the Larkspur Chamber of Commerce and authorizing the City Manager to execute an amendment to an existing agreement with the Chamber of Commerce for general services and business community support, bringing the total amount of the agreement for the fiscal year to $50,000. The vote was 4 in favor (Councilmembers Candell, Margulies, and Way, and Mayor Andre) and 1 abstained (Vice Mayor Paulson).
8.3 INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE 1096 AMENDING SECTIONS OF TITLE 15
OF THE LARKSPUR MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADOPT BY REFERENCE AND AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE 2025 EDITION OF THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING STANDARDS CODE, TITLE 24, CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS Council to consider introducing, waiving first reading, and setting a date for a public hearing for the adoption of Ordinance 1096.
City Manager Schwarz presented the staff report.
Mayor Andre opened the public hearing and, seeing no one wishing to speak, closed the public hearing.
Larkspur City Council
Minutes of January 7, 2026
Upon motion by Councilmember Candell, and seconded by Vice Mayor Paulson, the Council approved the introduction by title only and waived further reading of Ordinance 1096 amending Sections of Title 15 of the Larkspur Municipal Code to adopt by reference and amend provisions of the 2025 edition of the California Building Standards Code, Title 24, California Code of Regulations. The vote was unanimously in favor.
8.4 CITY COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS
Council to ratify Mayor’s updated appointments for 2026.
Upon motion by Councilmember Margulies, and seconded by Vice Mayor Paulson, the Council ratified the Mayor’s appointments for 2026. The vote was unanimously in favor.
9. ADJOURN
The Council adjourned the meeting at 9:37 p.m. in memory of Lark Theater Executive Director Ellie Mednick.
Attested
__________________________
Alison Foulis, City Clerk