1 CITY OF MILL VALLEY
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
ACTION MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL
26 CORTE MADERA AVENUE, MILL VALLEY
June 3, 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 Administrative Services Director Erickson; Deputy Director of Finance Atashkarian; Department of Public Works Director Poster; Management Analyst III Politzer; and City Clerk De Ferrari.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Carmel called the meeting to order at 5:30 P.M. noting Councilmember Perrey and Councilmember Wickham were running late to the meeting.
ACTION OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
None.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA ORDER
Agenda_240603
Mayor Carmel noted Item #6 will be heard immediately after Item #1. Councilmembers concurred.
It was MOVED by Vice Mayor Burke and SECONDED by Councilmember Joachim to approve the agenda order as amended. The Motion was carried unanimously by a 3-0-2 vote.
Councilmember Perrey and Councilmember Wickham absent.
PRESENTATIONS
1. Presentation of Certificates of Recognition to the Mill Valley Eagle Scouts.
Item 1_No Written Material_240603
Troop #1 Eagle Scout adult leader, Lisa Gilmore, introduced the item. 2 Jenna Spector, the 6th girl to join the Eagle Scouts, spoke at the podium.
The Scout Master of Troop #1, James Gracey, explained the process and mission of becoming an Eagle Scout.
Councilmember Perrey arrived at 5:37 p.m.
Eagle Scouts, Cade Peterson and Matt Keizer spoke about their recent volunteer projects.
Mayor Carmel applauded their years of dedication, impressed by how a very small group of people can achieve this accomplishment.
Councilmembers congratulated the newly recognized Eagle Scouts.
NEW BUSINESS
6. Consideration of a Resolution Authorizing a Collection Rate Application from Mill Valley Refuse Service for 8.26% Maximum Rate Increase Effective July 1, 2024.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 24-___.
Item 6_Mill Valley Refuse Service Collection Rate Increase Application_240603 City Manager Cusimano introduced the item. Eric Erickson and Trevor Atashkarian gave a summary of the staff report. The Chief Executive Officer of the Mill Valley Refuse Service (MVRS), Gene Della Zoppa, and Jim Hausman from R3 Consulting gave a presentation on the item.
Councilmember Wickham arrived at 5:57 p.m.
Councilmembers asked staff questions.
Mayor Carmel opened public comment.
Speakers: None.
Communications (via eComment): None.
Mayor Carmel closed public comment.
Councilmember Wickham commended their 118 years of service and 67-year partnership with Mill Valley. He encouraged Gene Della Zoppa to provide a public 5-10-year forecast measuring future rate adjustments by the MVRS to satisfy its customers. Councilmember Wickham expressed his support.
Councilmember Joachim reinstated that Mill Valley residents need to see the bigger picture and that smaller increments per year are more justifiable by the MVRS to its customers. She would also like to further understand how the MRVS is going to tackle these big issues, 3 especially with the obstacle of certain new state mandates. Councilmember Joachim expressed her support but would like to see more details moving forward.
Councilmember Perrey emphasized a need for comparative data between MVRS rate adjustments across neighboring cities in Marin. He also strongly recommended a forecast, even if it is just two years ahead. Councilmember Perrey expressed his support.
Vice Mayor Burke asked Gene Della Zoppa when he could come back with clear answers to the City Council’s questions. City Manager Cusimano stated that it will realistically take six months for the MVRS to release a forecast and noted that some members of staff can directly work with R3 and MVRS so certain questions can be fully addressed.
Mayor Carmel emphasized the importance of other variables, including inflation. The 8.26% rate increase especially stands out because we are re-entering low inflation. He also noted that Mill Valley’s 10-year agreement with the MVRS leaves them little room to negotiate MVRS rate increases. Mayor Carmel asked if it is possible to approve the proposed rate increase of 8.26% and receive an analysis that answers the questions posted at tonight’s meeting. He finally suggested that two liaisons from the City Council should consult with staff, MVRS, and R3 Consulting. Councilmembers concurred with his suggestion.
Gene Della Zoppa stated that are open to Mayor Carmel’s suggestions, but that certain costs are not within their control. He re-emphasized the need to consult with the MVRS Board before the City Council’s questions can be answered.
It was MOVED by Councilmember Wickham and SECONDED by Councilmember Perrey to adopt the Resolution as amended. The Motion was carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote.
PRESENTATIONS (Continued)
2. Presentation of Budget Overview and Department Services.
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City Manager Cusimano gave a presentation on the item.
Councilmembers asked staff questions.
Councilmembers thanked City Manager Cusimano for the report and said they are excited to see how things play out.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Carmel opened public comment for items on the Consent Calendar, Items #3-5. Seeing no one who wished to speak, Mayor Carmel closed public comment.
It was MOVED by Vice Mayor Burke and SECONDED by Mayor Carmel to adopt the Consent Calendar, Item #3-5. The Motion was carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote. 4 3. Consideration of a Resolution Accepting as Complete Work Under a Contract to Midstate Barrier Construction for the Roque Moraes Guardrail Project and Reallocation of Remaining Funds.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 24-___.
Item 3_Resolution and NOC Roque Moraes Guardrail Project_240603
4. Consideration of a Resolution Adopting the 2024 Marin County Local Road Safety Plan.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 24-___.
Item 4_Adoption of 2024 City of Mill Valley Local Road Safety Plan_240603
5. Consideration of a Resolution Accepting as Complete Work Under a Contract to Argonaut Constructors for the East Blithedale Rehabilitation Project Phase 2 & 3.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 24-___.
Item 5_NOC and Resolution East Blithedale Rehabilitation Project - Phase 2 & 3_240603
PUBLIC OPEN TIME
Mayor Carmel opened Public Open Time.
Speakers: Bob Middlestead.
Communication (via eComment): None.
COUNCIL/STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS AND COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS Councilmember Wickham noted that he will be absent from the next meeting, as he will be away on vacation.
Councilmember Joachim participated in the Mill Valley Historical Society “walk into history” and commended the event. Councilmember Joachim enjoyed the Mill Valley Memorial Day parade and thanked its sponsors and staff. She suggested that candy should be thrown out to the crowds at next year’s parade. Councilmember Joachim also attended the Marin City Town Hall meeting where the Tam School Board gave a presentation on the high school’s anti-racism initiative. She subsequently encouraged other members of the City Council to think about ways to reach out to the board and participate in their meetings more often. Lastly, Councilmember Joachim attended the Pride Flag raising ceremony at Lynton Square.
Vice Mayor Burke gave thanks to Director Poster and the Department of Public Works for executing repairs on Lovell Avenue on time, under budget, and with little impact on the community.
Mayor Carmel gave thanks to everyone who helped organize the Memorial Day parade. He commended the LGBTQIA+ Tam Club leaders for serving as the Grand Marshals of the parade.
Mayor Carmel hosted two city “walks through history” and recommended that the mayor should always host a walk each year. Mayor Carmel launched the Traffic and Mobility Advisory 5 Committee (TMAC) and appointed a Tam High student as a non-voting member. He also attended a Marin County Council of Mayors and Councilmembers (MCCMC) meeting last week and was appointed to the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAFHA) steering committee.
The Safe Routes to School Committee, under the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM), held a meeting on its upcoming fifth cycle for funding allocation. Mayor Carmel will officially start off the 113th Dipsea this Sunday, and Councilmember Perrey will be competing in the race. Mayor Carmel tied it off with a reminder that Comedy on the Plaza will take place on June 20th.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager Cusimano gave a report/update on the following topics:
• City Manager Cusimano invited Andrew Poster to speak and present the 2024 Public Works Project for Small Cities and Rural Communities award bestowed by the Northern California Chapter of the American Public Works Association. He gave thanks to everyone who worked on this project.
COUNCIL REQUESTS AND IDEAS FOR DISCUSSION
Councilmembers agreed to cancel the July 1st meeting and potentially reschedule the second meeting of August.
ADJOURNMENT – The Council ADJOURNED at 7:58 p.m. to the next Regular City Council meeting which will be held on Monday, June 17, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. in the Mill Valley City Council Chambers.
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Urban Carmel, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Risa De Ferrari, City Clerk