1 CITY OF MILL VALLEY
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
ACTION MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL
26 CORTE MADERA AVENUE, MILL VALLEY
September 18, 2023
5:30 P.M.
Mayor Jim Wickham – Present
Vice Mayor Urban Carmel – Absent
Councilmember Stephen Burke – Present
Councilmember Max Perrey – Present
Councilmember Caroline Joachim – Present
City Staff Present: City Manager Cusimano; City Attorney Khalsa; Senior Management Analyst Walsh; and City Clerk/Management Analyst III Politzer.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Wickham called the meeting to order at 5:30 P.M. and noted Vice Mayor Carmel was absent.
ACTION OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
None.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA ORDER
Agenda_230918
It was MOVED by Councilmember Joachim and SECONDED by Councilmember Perrey to approve the agenda order. The Motion was carried by a 4-0 vote. Vice Mayor Carmel absent.
PRESENTATIONS
1. Presentation of a Proclamation Declaring October 4, 2023 as International Walk and Roll to School Day in Mill Valley.
Item 1_International Walk and Roll to School Day 2023 Proclamation_230918 Mayor Wickham read the proclamation into the record and encouraged the Mill Valley community to participate in the event this year.
COUNCIL/STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS AND COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS Councilmember Joachim said she attended the Marin County Council of Mayors and Councilmembers (MCCMC) Legislative Committee meeting via Zoom where they met with Assembly Member Damon Connelly who gave a report to them on the most recent legislative 2 session. She noted Assembly Member Connelly requested anyone to reach out to his office with any local concerns, regulatory issues, or hearing ideas. Councilmember Joachim also noted over 900 bills have been sent to Governor Gavin Newsome for consideration of signing by October 14, 2023. She noted Governor Newsome has an 85% signing rate of bills. She also added there will be two bond measures on the March 2024 Election ballot and two other bond measures on the November 2024 Election ballot.
Councilmember Perrey said the Emergency Preparedness Commission (EPC) will be teaming up with the Mill Valley Public Library to host a series of emergency preparedness trainings this month.
PUBLIC OPEN TIME
Public Open Time_Public Communication Nos. 1-3_230918
Speakers: Mary Hamilton, Craig Severance.
Communications (via eComment): Eva Chrysanthe, Clayton Smith.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager Cusimano gave a report/update on the following topic:
• Engine No. 9’s history and anticipated next steps. For more information, please visit the City’s website - Historic Steam Engine Locomotive “Engine No. 9” (LINK). • The Infrastructure Funding Study Committee met for the first-time last week. The goal of the Committee is to bring the City Council a recommendation from the group by early December. The next Study Committee meeting is on October 3, 2023, and he encouraged the community to attend.
• Thanked Mayor Wickham for his assistance with PG&E regarding scheduling improvements on Miller Avenue.
• Senior Management Analyst Walsh provided an update on the City’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
PUBLIC HEARING
2. Consideration of Adopting an Ordinance Amending Section 1.15.010 of Chapter 1.15 (“Municipal Elections”) of the Mill Valley Municipal Code to Provide that the City’s General Municipal Elections be Held on the Date of the Statewide General Election Held on the First Tuesday After the First Monday in November of Each Even-Numbered Year and Extending Current Councilmembers Terms to Coincide with the Next General Election After their Current Terms Expire.
Recommended Action: Adopt Ordinance No. 1347, to be effective immediately.
Item 2_Election Date Change Ordinance_230918
City Clerk/Management Analyst III Politzer gave a presentation on the staff report.
Mayor Wickham opened the Public Hearing. Seeing no one who wished to speak, Mayor Wickham closed the Public Hearing.
3 It was MOVED by Councilmember Burke and SECONDED by Councilmember Perrey to adopt the Ordinance. The Motion was carried by a 4-0 vote. Vice Mayor Carmel absent.
COUNCIL REQUESTS AND IDEAS FOR DISCUSSION
Councilmember Joachim said the City of Mill Valley has a rich history of volunteers which was stifled by the COVID-19 pandemic. She requested the City Council to think of ways to improve the City’s volunteer coordination efforts either through a standing committee or by bringing back the Volunteer Coordinator position.
ADJOURNMENT – The Council ADJOURNED at 5:57 p.m. to the next Regular City Council meeting which will be held on Monday, October 2, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. in the Mill Valley City Council Chambers.
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Jim Wickham, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Hannah Politzer, City Clerk/Management Analyst III