1 CITY OF MILL VALLEY
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
ACTION MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL
26 CORTE MADERA AVENUE, MILL VALLEY
March 18, 2024
5:30 P.M.
Mayor Urban Carmel – Present
Vice Mayor Stephen Burke – Present
Councilmember Max Perrey – Present
Councilmember Caroline Joachim – Present
Councilmember Jim Wickham – Present
City Staff Present: City Manager Cusimano; City Attorney Khalsa; Finance and Human Resources Director Erickson; Arts and Recreation Director Howe; Assistant to the City Manager/Senior Management Analyst Rogers; Community Engagement Liaison Terrell; Senior Management Analyst Walsh; and City Clerk/Management Analyst III Politzer.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Carmel called the meeting to order at 5:31 P.M.
ACTION OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
None.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA ORDER
Agenda_240318
It was MOVED by Vice Mayor Burke and SECONDED by Councilmember Perrey to approve the agenda order. The Motion was carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote.
PRESENTATION
1. Presentation of the Parks and Recreation Commission’s Annual Report.
Item 1_Parks & Recreation Commission Annual Report_240318 Director of Arts and Recreation Director Howe and Parks and Recreation Commission Chair Jaime Firmage gave a presentation on the report.
Councilmembers asked staff questions.
2 Councilmembers thanked Chair Firmage for his service to the City as a Parks and Recreation Commissioner these past six years and encouraged him to continue to remain involved with the City.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Carmel opened public comment on the Consent Calendar. Seeing no one who wished to speak, Mayor Carmel closed public comment.
It was MOVED by Vice Mayor Burke and SECONDED by Councilmember Joachim to adopt the Consent Calendar, Item #2-7. The Motion was carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote.
2. Consideration of a Resolution Establishing the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Appropriations Limit.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 24-___.
Item 2_FY 2022-2023 Appropriation Limit_240318
3. Consideration of a Resolution Establishing the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Municipal Service Tax (MST) Appropriation Limit.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 24-___.
Item 3_FY 2022-2023 MST Appropriation Limit_240318
4. Consideration of a Resolution Establishing the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Appropriations Limit.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 24-___.
Item 4_FY 2023-2024 Appropriation Limit_240318
5. Consideration of a Resolution Establishing the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Municipal Service Tax (MST) Appropriation Limit.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 24-___.
Item 5_FY 2023-2024 MST Appropriation Limit_240318
6. Consideration of Authorizing City Staff to Update Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Operating Costs to Match Vendor’s “Recommended” Charging Structure.
Recommended Action: Authorize staff to update fees.
Item 6_Update Electric Vehicle Charger Fees_240318
7. Consideration of a Resolution Authorizing Improvements to Bayfront Dog Park.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 24-___.
Item 7_Bayfront Dog Park Improvements Resolution_240318
PUBLIC OPEN TIME
Mayor Carmel opened Public Open Time. Seeing no one who wished to speak, Mayor Carmel closed Public Open Time.
3 COUNCIL/STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS AND COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS Councilmember Wickham said he attended a Richardson Bay Regional Authority (RBRA) meeting the previous Thursday. As it is his 9th year, he will be stepping down towards the end of the year. He announced that they removed the last houseboat in Richardson Bay and they received recognition for their protection of the environment while meeting the state mandates.
The budget for the City of Mill Valley is up 3% and they will be paying $80,000 for their contribution. Councilmember Wickham noted the RBRA has a little over $1M budget, as well as $3M in grants from the State to help with homelessness and Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) has allowed them to have their resolution extended by one year, working towards having all boats off the Bay by 2026.
Councilmember Joachim said she attended a Marin County Council of Mayors and Councilmembers (MCCMC) Homelessness Subcommittee meeting where they discussed the rising issue of homelessness. She also noted she attended the Caregiver open house at the Marin Center for Independent Living. Councilmember Joachim said the beautification group began working on beautifying Lytton Square and planting day will be taking place on March 30th so more information will be available on MV Connect, as well as Michelle Terrel, the Community Engagement Liaison. She also announced she attended the opening day of the Mill Valley Little League and accepted the League Robins Award which is given to an individual who models sportsmanship, dedication, and commitment to the League.
Councilmember Perrey said he attended an MCE Executive Committee meeting where they had their budget review. Anyone is welcome to attend these meetings virtually, as they are broadcast live via Zoom. He noted they are not looking at a rate increase on the MCE side this year but they are looking to potentially acquire assets, which has not been done before by MCE.
Councilmember Perrey explained the assets include a power plant, solar, or even the purchase of the building since MCE has been building up the reserves to mediate the risk that may be involved in the purchase of said assets. The reserve target has been met, so they are working on creating a subcommittee to focus on that. Sebastian Conn, Senior Community Development Manager of MCE, will be presenting at the next meeting. Councilmember Perrey noted he will be attending the League of California Cities Conference in Burbank on Thursday, March 21st, 2024 as he is on the Environmental Quality Committee.
Vice Mayor Burke thanked and acknowledged the Mill Valley Market as their Manager, Ryan Canepa, installed two crow-proof garbage and recycling receptacles near the flower shop which cost $5,000, a great investment to preserve the environment of Mill Valley.
Mayor Carmel announced the Council will be considering their next “Volunteer All-Star” at the April 1, 2024 Regular City Council meeting and noted the small committee of past “Volunteer All-Stars” will meet in the future to create a list of people to be nominated. He noted he attended the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) Executive Committee meeting to discuss a 2026 Nine-County Transportation Tax. Mayor Carmel stated the Tiburon Town Council, as well as other jurisdictions, is moving to adopt Mill Valley Chief Rick Navarro’s E-Bike Ordinance. He also noted the planning for Mill Valley’s 125th Birthday has begun and the party will take place on September 1st, 2025.
4 CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager Cusimano gave a report/update on the following topics:
• Explained the Ocean Protection Council SB 1 Sea-Level Rise Adaptation Planning Grant.
The impacts of sea level rise are known, but there are no solutions in place for the next 50-75 years. In response, he met with Sea Level Rise expert, Julia Hart, to submit the grant.
• Mark Neumann was promoted to Deputy Director of the Department of Public Works, Operations, and commended him for his leadership.
The Goodwill location in the Safeway parking lot has moved to 411 Miller Avenue during construction in the lot.
NEW BUSINESS
*9. Consideration of the Proposed Revisions to the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget.
Recommended Action: Receive report and approve revisions.
Item 9_FY 2023-24 Mid-Term Budget Review_240318
Finance and Human Resources Director Erickson and Finance Supervisor Atashkarian gave a presentation on the report.
Councilmembers asked staff questions.
Mayor Carmel opened public comment. Seeing no one who wished to speak, Mayor Carmel closed public comment.
Moved by Stephen and seconded by Caroline. All ayes
It was MOVED by Vice Mayor Burke and SECONDED by Councilmember Joachim to approve the report. The Motion was carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote. *8. Confirmation of Outcomes from the 2024 City Council Annual Retreat.
Recommended Action: Receive report and confirm outcomes.
Item 8_2024 Annual Council Retreat Outcomes_240318
City Manager Cusimano and Senior Management Analyst Walsh gave a summary of the staff report.
Councilmembers asked staff questions.
Councilmembers confirmed the outcomes of the 2024 City Council Annual Retreat and provided direction to staff.
5 10. Consideration of a Resolution Confirming the Council’s Appointments to the Arts Commission, Emergency Preparedness Commission, and the Park and Recreation Commission.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 24-___.
Item 10_Arts, EPC, and P&R Commission Appointments_240318 Mayor Carmel introduced the item.
Mayor Carmel opened public comment. Seeing no one who wished to speak, Mayor Carmel closed public comment.
Mayor Carmel listed the new members of the Arts Commission, Emergency Preparedness Commission, and the Parks and Recreation Commission:
Arts Commission:
1. Audrey Donaldson
2. Diane Svigals
Emergency Preparedness Commission:
1. Kevin Ritchie
Parks and Recreation Commission:
1. Tara Huffman
It was MOVED by Councilmember Perrey and SECONDED by Vice Mayor Burke to adopt the Resolution. The Motion was carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote.
COUNCIL REQUESTS AND IDEAS FOR DISCUSSION
None.
ADJOURNMENT – The Council ADJOURNED at 7:31 p.m. to the next Regular City Council meeting which will be held on Monday, April 1, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. in the Mill Valley City Council Chambers.
___________________________
Urban Carmel, Mayor
ATTEST:
__________________________________________
Risa De Ferrari, City Clerk