1 CITY OF MILL VALLEY
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
ACTION MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL
26 CORTE MADERA AVENUE, MILL VALLEY
October 2, 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; Senior Management Analyst Walsh; 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
Agenda_231002
Amended Agenda_231002
It was MOVED by Vice Mayor Carmel and SECONDED by Councilmember Perrey to approve the agenda order. The Motion was carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote.
CONSENT CALENDAR
City Attorney Khalsa made an announcement for Item 3, Consideration of an amendment to the Employment Agreement with City Manager Cusimano regarding salary and benefits as required by the Brown Act. Changes contemplated by the amendment included participation in the City’s retiree’s health savings plan, retiree health savings executive plan 3% mandatory contribution rate, and 3% employer matching contribution; and outlined provisions of the agreement that had not changed, including base salary, deferred compensation, fringe benefits, group insurance, life insurance, vacation, sick leave, holiday leaves, administrative leave, car allowance, enrollment in CalPERS, and severance.
2 Mayor Wickham opened public comment. Seeing no one who wished to speak, Mayor Wickham closed public comment.
It was MOVED by Councilmember Burke and SECONDED by Vice Mayor Carmel to adopt the Consent Calendar, Items #2-4. The Motion was carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote.
2. Consideration of the September 18, 2023 Regular City Council Meeting Action Minutes.
Recommended Action: Approve the action minutes.
Item 2_Approval of Action Minutes_231002
3. Consideration of an Amendment to the Employment Agreement with City Manager Cusimano.
Recommended Action: Approve the Amendment to the Employment Agreement with City Manager Cusimano.
Item 3_Under Separate Cover_CM Contract Amendment_231002 Item 3_Amendment to CM Agreement_231002
4. Consideration of a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Award the Procurement of a Booster Pump for the Reclaimed Water System for an Amount Not to Exceed $80,000 with an Accompanying Budget Adjustment.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 23-____.
Item 4_Resolution for New Booster Pump_231002
PRESENTATION
1. Presentation of a Proclamation Declaring October 5-15, 2023, as Mill Valley Film Festival Days and Congratulating the Mill Valley Film Festival on the Occasion of its 46th Anniversary.
Item 1_Mill Valley Film Festival Proclamation 2023_231002 Mayor Wickham read the Proclamation into the meeting’s public record.
COUNCIL/STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS AND COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS Councilmember Burke noted that he and Councilmember Perrey are liaisons to the Mill Valley School District, and they attended the District’s first Public Measure G Information Workshop the previous Wednesday. The purpose of the workshop was to update the community on the assessment made on where to place the students during construction, with a formal 3 recommendation to be made at the board meeting on October 12th. There will be subsequent meetings over the next several months.
Councilmember Perrey said he and Councilmember Burke would be meeting with their counterparts on the school board next week. He gave a shoutout to the Mill Valley Police Department, which was partnering with the Tiburon Police Department for the Faith & Blue Blood Draw event on October 8th. He attended a League of California Cities event in Sacramento and attended panel discussions. He and Councilmember Joachim would soon attend the Standing Up for Racial Justice Workshop for elected officials.
Councilmember Joachim noted she serves as liaison for the Public Disaster Education and Preparedness Committee (PDEP) and attended a meeting earlier that day. On October 4th, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) would conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, and Marin County’s Office of Emergency Management would do a similar test in March 2024. She announced there would be a controlled burn in Novato, October 3rd-5th. On October 7th, there would also be an evacuation drill in Mill Valley on Panoramic Highway that would involve the County. The Great Shakeout would occur on October 19th for earthquake awareness, with more information on the City’s website and the Mill Valley Library’s website. In March 2024, an event called Ready 94941 would occur to assist in disaster preparedness. An informal meeting was held the prior week to discuss bringing back beautification efforts in Mill Valley. She and Councilmember Burke went to Sebastopol to view the restoration of the Engine No. 9 locomotive. Councilmember Joachim also attended a daylong symposium the previous week, hosted by the Aging Action Initiative, focusing on quality of life for older people in Marin County.
Mayor Wickham attended the Mill Valley Arts Festival the previous Saturday, which had a great turnout downtown.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager’s Report_Update on Engine No. 9 Feasibility Analysis_LINK_231002 City Manager Cusimano gave a report/update on the following topics:
• Update on Engine No. 9 Feasibility Analysis. City Manager Cusimano said that as the City began to evaluate the Engine No. 9 project, they created a landscape plan for the front of City Hall and evaluated both projects simultaneously. An arborist evaluated the big cedar tree that has overtaken the site to ascertain how it could be pruned back from City Hall and kept healthy, and how the flagpole could be moved to add symmetry and beauty to the tree while not overtaking the entire lot. The arborist also evaluated the tree’s root system for any limitations to potentially placing Engine No. 9 near it. The arborist also brought to the City’s attention the cherry tree close to the parking lot entrance that was dying, resulting in the tree being removed, but without proper communication to the community, it was believed the city was removing trees to bring Engine No. 9 immediately to City Hall, which was not the case. The evaluation of the feasibility of bringing Engine No. 9 to City Hall was then escalated, and it was determined that it was not feasible to 4 bring the engine to the front of City Hall. He encouraged the community to rally around Engine No. 9 to help find another place for it in Mill Valley.
Councilmembers made comments in a follow-up to City Manager Cusimano’s report.
PUBLIC OPEN TIME
Public Open Time_Public Communication Nos. 1 & 2_231002 Mayor Wickham opened Public Open Time.
Speakers: Clifford Waldeck, Hugh Kuhn, Chloe and Olivia Skiles, Peter Bales.
Communications (via eComment): Olivia and Chloe Skiles; and Clayton Smith Mayor Wickham closed Public Open Time.
MAYORAL TRANSITION
5. Congratulations to Mayor Wickham on the Completion of His Term as Mayor and Election of City Council Officers: Mayor and Vice Mayor.
Recommended Action: Elect a new Mayor and Vice Mayor.
Item 5_No Written Material_231002
Item 5_Public Communication No. 1_231002
Mayor Wickham introduced the item and spoke about completing his second term as Mill Valley Mayor. He thanked the City Council members who supported him and called them a great resource.
He thanked City Manager Cusimano, saying he understood Mill Valley politics and made his job as Mayor easier. He also thanked City staff and community members. He spoke of the Mill Valley Fire Department becoming part of the Southern Marin Fire Protection District, affordable housing in Mill Valley, present and future infrastructure, and wished Vice Mayor Carmel well as he moves forward as the next Mayor of Mill Valley.
It was MOVED by Mayor Wickham and SECONDED by Councilmember Perrey to nominate Vice Mayor Carmel as Mayor of Mill Valley.
It was MOVED by Vice Mayor Carmel and SECONDED by Councilmember Joachim to nominate Councilmember Burke as Vice Mayor of Mill Valley.
The Motions were carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote.
Mayor Carmel made comments regarding getting to know Councilmember Wickham after being elected to the City Council and how much he learned from him because of his perspective from having lived in Mill Valley his entire life. He was thankful Councilmember Wickham 5 would remain on the City Council for the next 15 months with his valuable understanding of Mill Valley. He spoke of becoming close friends with Councilmember Wickham during their time on the City Council, calling him an excellent mentor, and said he appreciated being invited to all the Mayor’s meetings to understand the decision-making process and how important it is for the Mayor and Vice Mayor to work closely together. Lastly, he expressed his appreciation for the fantastic job Councilmember Wickham did as Mayor for the past year.
Vice Mayor Burke said he did not know Councilmember Wickham before joining the City Council, but Councilmember Wickham reached out, and they gradually got to know each other.
He said Councilmember Wickham’s beat has been Mill Valley for 66 years, and the City is better for it. He added that Councilmember Wickham always brought a perspective to issues based on experience, insight, and empathy that is powerful and a great lesson for him as a City Councilmember. He thanked Councilmember Wickham and looked forward to continuing to learn from him.
Councilmember Perrey spoke about meeting Councilmember Wickham in 2008 on the Centennial Committee for Tam High, and now during his time on the City Council. He said Councilmember Wickham has hit the expected elements, such as collaboration and deep love of Mill Valley, but he was also surprised by his humor on the dais, the seriousness with which he took the role of mayor, and the mentorship he provided. He said it has been a real pleasure working with Councilmember Wickham, and he looked forward to the next 15 months together on the Council.
Councilmember Joachim said she was introduced to Councilmember Wickham through hearing of his service to Mill Valley, how she appreciated his encouragement for her to run for the City Council, and how welcome she felt when she joined the Council six months prior. She said in the past six months, they have needed to have the perspective of Mill Valley from someone who has been there and lived it, so Councilmember Wickham was her go-to for that and would continue to be so. She said what she most appreciated is that when there is an issue, he is creative and thoughtful in his problem-solving, and that is what has made him a great leader for Mill Valley, what he has done in his service to the town is inspirational, and she looked forward to continuing to work with him on the City Council.
Mayor Carmel invited members of the public to recognize Former Mayor Wickham.
Hugh Kuhn thanked Councilmember Wickham for his service to the community through literally his entire life, from being a police officer to working on the City Council, and many other behind-the-scenes service roles.
Paula Reynolds, on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, added her deep appreciation and gratitude for everything Councilmember Wickham has done for Mill Valley. She read a letter from the Chamber staff and board expressing their appreciation for his leadership as Mayor in fostering economic vitality in the community. She touched upon the many important issues Councilmember Wickham navigated during his time on the Council, and the many other ways he had his hand in nearly every element in the town, and said he led in a gracious and community- 6 minded way. She also echoed the idea that Councilmember Wickham is very solution-oriented and said his ideas have endured.
City Manager Cusimano said Councilmember Wickham was one of the reasons he accepted the position of Mill Valley city manager, and he would always be grateful for that. He said he has worked with Councilmember Wickham personally and professionally for 28 years and appreciated his honest advice and support. He said he has worked for 28 mayors, but has never met one like Councilmember Wickham, who understands public service, the importance of the mayor’s job, and his passion for the community. He said Councilmember Wickham has always given him the best advice on how to support his team and thanked him for all he has done.
COUNCIL REQUESTS AND IDEAS FOR DISCUSSION
Councilmember Perrey said he had spoken to City Manager Cusimano and Councilmember Wickham while he was Mayor regarding the potential of bringing a resolution condemning antisemitism to a future City Council meeting.
ADJOURNMENT – The Council ADJOURNED at 6:50 p.m. to the next Regular City Council meeting to be held on Monday, October 16, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. in the Mill Valley City Council Chambers.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED BY THE MILL
VALLEY CITY COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 6, 2025
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Stephen Burke, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Risa De Ferrari, City Clerk