1 CITY OF MILL VALLEY
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
ACTION MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL
26 CORTE MADERA AVENUE, MILL VALLEY
February 22, 2022
6:30 P.M.
Mayor John McCauley – Present
Vice Mayor Jim Wickham – Present
Councilmember Urban Carmel – Present
Councilmember Sashi McEntee – Present
Councilmember Stephen Burke – Present
City Staff Present: City Manager Piombo; City Attorney Khalsa; Planning and Building Director Kelly; Arts and Recreation Director McGrew; Senior Management Analyst Walsh; Human Resources Manager Allingham; and Acting City Clerk/Management Analyst II Politzer.
NOTE: The health and safety of community members, public officials, and employees is the top priority for the City of Mill Valley. Due to the declared State of Emergency and pursuant to AB 361, the City of Mill Valley's City Council will be holding this Regular City Council meeting via teleconference only. The meeting will be streamed live (see below), and members of the public are encouraged to participate remotely from a safe location as described below.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE REMOTELY
How to Participate Remotely_220222.pdf
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS - Dropbox Folder Link & Instructions_220222 2022 BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEE RECRUITMENT INTERVIEWS (Parks and Recreation Commission): 5:15 - 6:00 P.M. via Zoom Parks & Recreation, Library Board of Trustees, & EPC Interview Materials_220222 Councilmembers interviewed applicants for the Parks and Recreation Commission via Zoom (Larry Anderson, Nick Bockh, David Cherner, Jeff Dobkins, Stephen Donahue, Andy Gordon, Naomi Jane Gray, Katherine Jones, Vanessa Justice, and Carter Zinn) for the 2022 Annual Recruitment. The Council will decide their appointments during Item #8 of the February 22, 2022, Regular City Council meeting.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor McCauley called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Acting City Clerk/Management Analyst II Politzer read the COVID-19 notice and public participation instructions into the record.
2 Acting City Clerk/Management Analyst II Politzer called the roll call. All City Councilmembers were present.
ACTION OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
None.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA ORDER
Agenda_220222
It was MOVED by Councilmember McEntee and SECONDED by Councilmember Burke to approve the Agenda Order. Acting City Clerk/Management Analyst II Politzer called the roll call vote. The Motion was carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote.
PRESENTATIONS
1. Presentation by Mark Van Gorder, North Bay Pacific Gas and Electric Company, of the SCADA/Transmission Tower Replacement Project at the Alto Substation.
Item 1_No Written Material_220222.pdf
City Manager Piombo introduced Mark van Gorder from North Bay Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) Company, Project Manager Yasmin Hassen, and PG&E Customer Outreach Coordinator Arif Khalik. They gave a presentation on the item.
Councilmembers asked staff questions.
Mayor McCauley opened public comment. Seeing no one who wished to speak on the item, Mayor McCauley closed public comment.
Councilmembers thanked staff for the presentation.
2. Presentation of the Planning Commission Annual Report.
Item 2_Planning Commission Annual Report_220222
Planning and Building Director Kelly and former Planning Commission Chair Greg Hildebrand gave a presentation.
Councilmembers asked staff questions.
Mayor McCauley noted the Council would open public comment for all Board, Commission, and Committee presentations after Item #4.
3. Presentation of the Arts Commission Annual Report.
Item 3_Arts Commission Annual Report_220222
Recreation Director McGrew and former Arts Commission Chair Sharon Valentino gave a presentation.
3 Councilmembers asked staff questions.
Mayor McCauley noted the Council would open public comment for all Board, Commission, and Committee presentations after Item #4.
4. Presentation of the Parks and Recreation Commission Annual Report.
Item 4_Parks and Recreation Commission Annual Report_220222 Item 4_Public Communication No. 1_220222
Recreation Director McGrew and Parks and Recreation Commission Chair Vanessa Justice gave a presentation.
Councilmembers asked staff questions.
Mayor McCauley opened public comment for Item nos. 2-4.
Speakers (via Zoom): Sascha Bunge, Nancy Carlston, Naima Dean, Eileen Fisher.
Communications (via eComment): Tammy Herndon.
Mayor McCauley closed public comment.
Councilmembers offered deliberative comments on Item nos. 2-4. Councilmember Carmel noted the Planning Commission and the Planning and Building Department both carry a hefty workload and thanked everyone for their work. He also said he was pleased the City was moving towards using an objective design review process more frequently. Councilmember Carmel thanked Sharon Valentino for her many years of service on the Arts Commission. He also commended the Parks and Recreation Commission for their work on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives this past year. Vice Mayor Wickham thanked all the Commissions and staff for their hard work.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor McCauley noted (regarding agenda Item #8) the Council held interviews for the annual Parks and Recreation Commission at 5:15 p.m. this evening via Zoom. He announced the City Council would be appointing Vanessa Justice (incumbent) to a second term on the Parks and Recreation Commission (second term effective March 1, 2022, ending February 28, 2025). He also announced the City Council will be appointing Naomi Jane Gray and Katherine Jones to the Parks and Recreation Commission (terms effective March 1, 2022, ending February 28, 2025). Mayor McCauley also announced the Council is appointing Leah Curtis to fill an unscheduled vacancy on the Emergency Preparedness Commission (term effective the date of appointment ending February 28, 2023, at which time she is eligible to reapply for a new fullterm). Additionally, Mayor McCauley announced the City Council would be appointing George Rodericks (incumbent) to a second term on the Library Board of Trustees (second term effective March 1, 2022, ending February 28, 2025).
Mayor McCauley opened public comment. Seeing no one who wished to speak on items on the Consent Calendar, Mayor McCauley closed public comment. 4 Mayor McCauley briefly commented on Item #7, noting his reservations regarding the contractor based on his experience with them in previous City projects. He urged staff to ensure the contractor respects the community’s traffic impact during the upcoming project.
It was MOVED by Councilmember McEntee and SECONDED by Councilmember Carmel to approve the Consent Calendar, Items #5-8. Acting City Clerk/Management Analyst II Politzer called the roll call vote. The Motion was carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote.
5. Consideration of Continuing to Make Findings Authorizing the Use of Remote Teleconferencing Option for the Public Meetings of Mill Valley’s Legislative Bodies as Required by Assembly Bill 361.
Recommended Action: Make findings to have the option to hold remote meetings as allowed by Assembly Bill 361.
Item 5_Continue Making Findings for Remote Meetings Per AB 361_220222
6. Consideration of a Resolution to Oppose State Ballot Measure 21-0041A1 Restricting Voters’ Input and Local Taxing Authority.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 22-___.
Item 6_Resolution Opposing State Ballot Measure 21-0042A1_220222
7. Consideration of a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Consultant Services Agreement with Coastland Civil Engineering for the East Blithedale Avenue Rehabilitation Project, Phases 2 and 3.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 22-___.
Item 7_Construction Management Agreement of Phases 2 & 3 of East Blithedale Rehabilitation Project_220222
8. Consideration of a Resolution Making Appointments to the City's Parks and Recreation Commission, Library Board of Trustees, and to Fill an Unscheduled Vacancy on the Emergency Preparedness Commission (Terms Effective March 1, 2022 Unless Noted Otherwise).
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 22-___.
Item 8_Resolution Making Appointments to Parks & Rec, LBOT, & EPC_220222
COUNCIL/STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS AND COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS Mayor McCauley noted he sent a letter regarding local control to Senator Mike McGuire on December 6, 2021, specifically related to Senate Bill 9 (SB 9). He noted Senator McGuire’s staff and the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) are looking into the questions he asked in his letter.
Vice Mayor Wickham recently attended a Richardson Bay Regional Agency (RBRA) meeting and noted Interim Executive Director Steve McGrath would be giving a presentation on the RBRA at an upcoming City Council meeting. He also noted the meeting covered the RBRA’s transition plan. Vice Mayor Wickham stated he would not be attending the March 7, 2022, Regular City Council meeting as he will be with family for the first anniversary of his wife, Suzie Wickham’s passing.
5 Councilmember Carmel encouraged community members to consider running for a Mill Valley City Council seat at the upcoming General Municipal Election on June 7, 2022. He also noted he attended the third Housing Element meeting last week, where they worked in small groups discussing different sites and strategies. Councilmember Carmel also noted a Climate Action Plan meeting on March 2, 2022 and encouraged the community to attend. He also mentioned he spoke with Marin County Supervisor Stephanie Moulton-Peters regarding drainage improvements and repaving along Lomita Drive.
Councilmember McEntee thanked Police Chief Navarro, Community Services Officer DeLaTorre, Corporal Neisius, and all other officers for attending the Enchanted Knolls Public Safety Pop-Up Meeting. She also noted she was able to participate in and observe a Department of Defense (DOD) Autonomous Wildfire Detection Response Field Experiment. She will be speaking on the panel for NASA’s Systemwide Safety Wildland Firefighting Operations Workshop. Councilmember McEntee stated the Marin County Council of Mayors and Councilmembers (MCCMC) would be meeting tomorrow night. There will be a presentation on the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC). She also announced the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA) would be hosting its first Ember Stomp event in May.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager Piombo reported on the following:
• Addressed the Marin Independent Journal article related to Marin’s pesticide usage and outlined the City of Mill Valley’s pesticide management policy, adopted in 2013. • The City and its consultants, EAH Housing, will be hosting an online workshop On March 10, 2022, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. to discuss affordable housing opportunities near the site of 1 Hamilton Drive.
• The City hosted a workshop last week on the Housing Element Update to review the results of a survey sent out to the community regarding the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) required by the State of California. The following Housing Element Update workshop will be held on March 30, 2022.
• The Mill Valley Music Festival, hosted by the Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce, will be held on May 7, 2022, at the Friends Field.
• Senior Management Analyst Walsh gave a report and update on the City’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
PUBLIC OPEN TIME
Speakers (via Zoom): Naima Dean.
Communications (via eComment): None.
6 NEW BUSINESS
9. Consideration of a Proposed Golf Course Management Agreement between the City of Mill Valley and Touchstone Golf, Inc.
Recommended Action: Approve the Golf Course Management Agreement.
Item 9_Proposed Golf Course Management Agreement_220222 Item 9_Public Communication No. 1_220222
Item 9_Public Communication Nos. 2-6_220222
Item 9_Public Communication Nos, 7-21_220222
Item 9_Public Communication Nos. 22-42_220222
Item 9_Public Communication Nos. 43-49_202222
City Manager Piombo, Recreation Director McGrew, and Touchstone Golf Consultants Steve Harker, Mark Luthman, and Steve Argo presented the staff report.
Councilmembers asked staff questions.
Mayor McCauley opened public comment.
Speakers (via Zoom): Gavin Fisco, Alexander Cushner, Jon Gregg, Michael Larezzo, Stacy Bloom, Michael Mooney, and Jim Parrinello.
Communications (via eComment): None.
Mayor McCauley closed public comment.
Councilmembers offered deliberative comments.
Mayor McCauley briefly summarized the City’s Golf Course management history throughout the years. He commended the efforts taken by the golf community in leading this effort. Mayor McCauley said he thinks this will be an excellent program and he supports moving forward with the vendor, Touchstone Golf.
Vice Mayor Wickham said he agrees with Mayor McCauley’s comments, noting the City does not have the same expertise in managing the Golf Course as private vendors. He supported moving forward with the agreement.
Councilmember Carmel thanked everyone involved in this process and noted this is an excellent example of a public/private relationship to improve the community. He said the plan demonstrates a sustainable economic future for the Golf Course and how Touchstone Golf has a history of equitable and inclusive programs. Councilmember Carmel said the Golf Course is a unique asset to the City of Mill Valley, and it is worth investing in. He supported moving forward with the agreement.
Councilmember McEntee said she appreciated all the work that went into this effort. She agreed with her colleagues’ comments and noted this is a beautiful example of collaboration between the City and golf course enthusiasts. Councilmember McEntee supported moving forward with the proposal.
7 Councilmember Burke said he agrees with everything that has been said and thanked the efforts from everyone on this proposal; he specifically gave a shout-out to City staff and the Golf Club.
He supported moving forward with the proposal.
It was MOVED by Councilmember Carmel and SECONDED by Councilmember Burke to approve the management agreement and the schedule of capital investment. Acting City Clerk/Management Analyst II Politzer called the roll call vote. The Motion was carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote.
COUNCIL REQUESTS AND IDEAS FOR DISCUSSION
Councilmember Burke requested for staff to draft a proposal updating the data studied by the Traffic Congestion Task Force to be used during the East Blithedale project education campaign.
Mayor McCauley and Councilmember Carmel supported this request.
ADJOURNMENT – The Council ADJOURNED at 9:43 p.m. to the next Regular City Council meeting which will be held on Monday, March 7, 2022. ___________________________
John McCauley, Mayor
ATTEST:
________________________________________
Kelsey Rogers, City Clerk/Management Analyst III