1 CITY OF MILL VALLEY
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL
26 CORTE MADERA AVENUE, MILL VALLEY
July 17, 2023
5:30 P.M.
Mayor Jim Wickham – Present
Vice Mayor Urban Carmel – Present
Councilmember Stephen Burke – Present
Councilmember Caroline Joachim – Present
Councilmember Max Perrey – Present
City Staff Present: City Manager Cusimano; City Attorney Khalsa; Director of Public Works Poster; Senior Management Analyst Walsh; Senior Management Analyst/Assistant to the City Manager Rogers; and City Clerk Politzer.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Wickham called the meeting to order at 5:30 PM
ACTION OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
None.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA ORDER
Special Agenda_230717
Amended Special Agenda_230717
It was MOVED by Councilmember Perrey and SECONDED by Councilmember Burke to approve the agenda order. The Motion was carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote.
Mayor Wickham noted that the meeting would be adjourned in memory of Christopher Raker, former Planning Commissioner and City Councilmember, who passed away on July 5th due to ALS. Mayor Wickham noted that Mr. Raker’s daughter Bianca Raker was in the audience.
Councilmembers expressed their condolences to Christopher Raker’s family and recounted their experiences of knowing him.
Former Mayor Dennis Fisco, Marin County Supervisor Stephanie Moulton-Peters, and former Mayor Clifford Waldeck shared memories of Christopher Raker and expressed their condolences to his family.
2 Bianca Raker thanked the City Council and audience members for sharing their memories and stories, and talked about Mr. Raker’s genuine love for Mill Valley and introduced her family members.
PRESENTATION
1. Presentation from Comcast Representative, Marcos Montes, on the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Wireless Resiliency Order.
Item 1_CPUC Wireless Resiliency Order Presentation_230717 Comcast Representative Marcos Montes provided a presentation on the CPUC Wireless Resiliency Order. He introduced his colleague, Billy Glisson, Construction Manager, overseeing Comcast’s efforts on resiliency. Mr. Montes provided information on working with local government, customer outreach, battery cabinet examples, additional resources, Comcast improvements, and remaining sites.
Councilmembers asked questions of Marcos Montes, Billy Glisson, and City Manager Cusimano and provided comments on the presentation.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Wickham asked if any Councilmember or member of the public wished to pull Items #2-4 from the Consent Calendar. There were no requests.
It was MOVED by Vice Mayor Carmel and SECONDED by Councilmember Burke to adopt the Consent Calendar, Items #2-4. The Motion was carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote.
Kristi Denton Cohen of the Marin County Commission on Aging encouraged the City Council and the public to reach out to her with any questions or issues, such as Home Match, ADUs, and safety.
2. Consideration of a Resolution to Designate a Voting Delegate to Represent the City at the Annual League of California Cities (LOCC) Conference which will be held in Sacramento on September 20-22, 2023.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 23-____.
Item 2_LOCC Delegate Appointee Resolution_230717
3. Consideration of a Resolution Making an Appointment to the Marin County Commission on Aging.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 23-____.
Item 3_Resolution Appointing Commission on Aging Member_230717
4. Consideration of a Resolution Adopting Special Right of Way Restoration Standards.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 23-____.
Item 4_Resolution Approving Special Right of Way Restoration_230717 3 COUNCIL/STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS AND COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS Councilmember Burke said he had taken a bicycle tour of the freshly paved and slurry-sealed streets of Mill Valley, and it was wonderful and safe. He commended the Public Works team that made it happen, and the residents who tolerated the projects with good humor.
Vice Mayor Carmel announced that on August 23rd at 10 am, there would be an Elder Fraud Educational Seminar. He and Councilmember Joachim just spent two hours speaking at the Redwood Retirement Community about the climate, housing, ebikes, and any whatever else the residents wanted to talk about. The Planning Commission has gone through the second iteration of the public review of the design for the 1 Hamilton Drive project. The next step is for it to come back on an EIR to review the design one more time. He and City Manager Cusimano met two weeks previously with Bridge, which manages the Pickleweed affordable housing development in Mill Valley, regarding maintenance, vacancies, and their outreach program, and said Bridge plans to do over $2 million in improvements starting next fall. Vice Mayor Carmel said the Library Foundation gave $100,000 to the Mill Valley Library and has given $1 million to the City of Mill Valley since 2011. Vice Mayor Carmel and others met with the Marin Organizing Committee to discuss the Bay Area Regional Housing Financing Authority. They are planning a parcel tax or general obligation bond to go on the November 2024 ballot, with nine counties going in together to pass this ballot initiative that would provide between $10-$20 billion for affordable housing.
Mayor Wickham announced that on July 1st, Mill Valley’s local fire department was annexed into the Southern Marin Fire District, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Mill Valley on July 11th. He thanked City Manager Cusimano, who did a great job of working with the unions and SMFD Board to ensure transparency and a cohesive agreement.
PUBLIC OPEN TIME
Public Open Time, Public Communication No. 1_230717
Mayor Wickham opened Public Open Time.
Speakers: Lucy Ashley, Phil Hinderberger
Communications (via eComment): Clayton Smith
Mayor Wickham closed Public Open Time.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Cusimano gave a report/update on the following topics:
• Michelle Terrel is now part of the administration team and will be doing high-level work regarding emergency preparedness and partnering with Councilmember Joachim as they begin to engage the community over the next year. The City has also hired Public Works Senior Project Manager Calvin Gee to oversee paving projects and special projects. 4 NEW BUSINESS
5. Receive Infrastructure Funding and Study Committee Appointment Report.
Recommended Action: Receive Staff Report and appoint a temporary Study Committee to review infrastructure reports, funding options, and make a recommendation to Council.
Item 5_Infrastructure Funding and Study Committee_230717 Mayor Wickham introduced the item and commended Vice Mayor Carmel, who spearheaded the effort and worked with City Manager Cusimano to put the report together.
City Manager Cusimano gave a brief background and thanked Councilmember Burke, Councilmember Joachim, Administrative Services Deputy Linn Walsh, and members of the Administration, Public Works, and Finance departments who helped put the report together.
Senior Management Analyst Walsh provided a presentation on topics such as the City’s infrastructure decline risk; funding the needed repairs; safety improvements, such as landslides, flooding, emergency egress, and facilities response; deferred maintenance to facilities; and traffic mitigation, streets, and sidewalks.
City Manager Cusimano talked about CIP funding, both current and needed for the future; a 10– 15-year financial plan; flood mitigation; landslide prevention; climate adaptation projects; streets, sidewalks, and traffic mitigation; recreation and facility improvements; completed renovation projects; public and private partnerships; playground improvement; fire safety; emergency evacuation and egress; ADA transition plan; water conservation; funding mechanisms and revenue streams; and appointing a temporary Study Committee.
Councilmembers asked questions of City Manager Cusimano and Administrative Services Deputy Walsh.
Mayor Wickham opened public comment.
Speakers: None.
Communications (via eComment): Clayton Smith.
Mayor Wickham closed public comment.
It was MOVED by Councilmember Perrey and SECONDED by Councilmember Joachim to recommend appointing Vice Mayor Carmel and Councilmember Burke to the temporary Study Committee. The Motion was carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote. 5 PUBLIC HEARING
6. Consideration of a Resolution Levying an Annual Sewer Service Charge for Fiscal Year 2023/24 Pursuant to Chapter 17.04 of the Mill Valley Municipal Code and Ordering the Annual Sewer Service Charge to be Collected on the County of Marin Tax Roll.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 23-____.
Item 6_Authorization to Levy and Collect Annual Sewer Service Fees on the Tax Roll FY 2023-2024_230717
Mayor Wickham introduced the item and provided a brief overview.
Mayor Wickham opened the Public Hearing. Seeing no one who wished to speak, Mayor Wickham closed the Public Hearing.
It was MOVED by Vice Mayor Carmel and SECONDED by Councilmember Burke to adopt the Resolution. The Motion was carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote.
COUNCIL REQUESTS AND IDEAS FOR DISCUSSION
None.
CLOSED SESSION
A. CLOSED SESSION BUSINESS – Following Public Comment, the City Council will adjourn to Closed Session to consider the following:
1. Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation (Government Code Section 54956.9). Friends of Hauke Park v. City of Mill Valley, Marin Superior Court Case No. CIV0000005.
B. ACTION OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
ADJOURNMENT – The Council ADJOURNED TO CLOSED SESSION at 6:57 p.m. in memory of Christopher Raker. The next Regular City Council meeting to be held on Monday, August 7, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. in the Mill Valley City Council Chambers. ___________________________
Stephen Burke, Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________
Risa De Ferrari, City Clerk