1 CITY OF MILL VALLEY
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
ACTION MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL
26 CORTE MADERA AVENUE, MILL VALLEY
November 4, 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; Human Resources Manager Allingham; Senior Management Analyst Walsh; Senior Management Analyst Rogers; Captain Haynes, Permit Services Coordinator Athena Langdon, Director of Building & Planning Kelly, and City Clerk De Ferrari.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Carmel called the meeting to order at 5:31 P.M.
ACTION OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
A closed session agendized immediately following adjournment of the November 4, 2024 Regular City Council meeting.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA ORDER
Agenda_241104
Agenda Updated_241104
It was MOVED by Vice Mayor Burke and SECONDED by Councilmember Joachim to approve the agenda order. The Motion was carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote.
PRESENTATIONS
1. Presentation of a Proclamation Celebrating and Recognizing Permit Services Coordinator Athena Langdon on the Occasion of Her Retirement from the City of Mill Valley After 17 Years of Service.
Item 1_No Written Material_241104-
Mayor Carmel introduced the item and read the proclamation. 2 Mayor Carmel opened Public Open Time.
Speaker 1: Director of Building & Planning Department, Patrick Kelly shared his appreciation and praise for Athena Langson and read letters of appreciation from the community.
Communications (via eComment): None.
Mayor Carmel opened for public comment. Seeing no one who wished to speak, Mayor Carmel closed public comment.
Mayor Carmel closed Public Open Time.
Councilmembers shared their praise and appreciation for Athena Langdon.
Mayor Carmel invited employee Athena Langdon to come up and say a few words in recognition of retirement and work with the City of Mill Valley.
CONSENT CALENDAR
It was MOVED by Councilmember Wickham and SECONDED by Vice Mayor Burke to adopt the Consent Calendar, Item #2–6. The Motion was carried unanimously by a 5-0 vote.
2. Consideration of the October 21, 2024, Regular City Council Meeting Action Minutes.
Recommended Action: Approve the Action Minutes.
Item 2_Under Separate Cover_Oct 21, 2024 Action Minutes_241104 Item 2_Action Minutes for the October 21, 2024 Regular City Council Meeting_241104
3. Consideration of a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Award a General Service Contract for the Audiovisual Upgrade in the Library’s Creekside Room.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 24-___.
Item 3_Library Creekside Audiovisual Upgrade_241104
4. Consideration of a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Professional Services Agreement for the Design of the 2025 Annual Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project with Schaff & Wheeler.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 24-___.
Item 4_Award S&W Annual Sewer Improve Design Contract_241104 3 5. Consideration of a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Professional Services Agreement with Pavement Engineering, Inc. for the Preliminary Engineering Phase of the 2025 Annual Street Rehabilitation Project.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 24-___.
Item 5_PW25-01 Annual Street Rehab (PSA)_241104
6. Consideration of a Resolution Approving Free Holiday Parking at Meter Zones.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 24-___.
Item 6_Holiday Parking 2024_241104
PUBLIC OPEN TIME
Mayor Carmel opened Public Open Time.
Speakers: None.
Communications (via eComment): None.
Mayor Carmel opened public comment. Seeing no one who wished to speak, Mayor Carmel closed public comment.
Mayor Carmel closed Public Open Time.
COUNCIL/STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS AND COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS Mayor Carmel asked Councilmember Perrey to include a TMAC representative in the E-Bike committee. Mayor Carmel noted the Milley Awards occurred last Saturday. The mayor shared the Milly Valley Philharmonic is playing on two upcoming dates in Mill Valley. He said this this coming Friday, the 100th musical performance at the Depot is happening and shared that this is a weekly activity with free, live music on the plaza and had drawn a lot of the community over the year. Mayor Carmel expressed his thanks to the Beautification Brigade for the impact they are having on the town. Mayor Carmel noted that at the November 18th City Council meeting we will be honoring our 4th Quarter Volunteer All-Star, Dennis Fisco.
Vice Mayor Burke shared there was a second youth e-bike county committee meeting where they discussed launching an education campaign. Yesterday, Vice Mayor Burke, along with Councilmember Joachim attended the Laural Tie Ceremony on Mount Tamalpais.
Councilmember Joachim reported on the Beautification Brigade is focused on finishing the E.
Blithedale triangle project. She thanked staff members Mark Neuman, Frank Zanco, and volunteer Hugh Kuhn. On October 23rd, Councilmember Joachim attended the Harvest Festival hosted by Mill Valley School District. She said there were over 800 RSVPs. • Police Governance Update
4 Mayor Carmel introduced the Police Governance Update and explained that once a quarter the Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Police Department get together and review all the citation for that quarter.
Mayor Carmel shared that the top-level view of this quarter’s review is that police work continues to remain within normal ranges. Mayor Carmel noted there were 1000 citations and there were 138 e-bike citations which is an increase of 58 citations this quarter.
Vice Mayor Burke highlighted and reinforced the mayor’s comments and underscored the Police Department’s commitment to making a difference in relation to e-bike education and training classes.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Cusimano shared his appreciation for staff and the Police Department for their commitment to applying for and receiving grants and noted the Traffic Safety Grant the Police Department received for $52,000 that is going directly to traffic safety. • United Against Hate Week Recap and Call for Art
Community Engagement Liaison Terrel shared a review of all the work, engagement, and video campaign that occurred during the United Against Hate week. DEI Liaison Herndon shared a new call for artwork for a specific art box located on Camino Alto and E. Blithedale.
She reviewed the history of art on the art box, which in 2020, was wrapped with artwork that stated, “Black Lives Matter” and how, after repeated defacing of this artwork, it was changed to, “Mill Valley Support Racial Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.” She explained what the new call is asking for as well as the timeline associated with the call for art.
NEW BUSINESS
7. Consideration of a Resolution Accepting a $19,360 Grant from the California Department of Justice for Tobacco-Related Education & Enforcement Programs; and Approval of Related Expenditures.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 24-___.
Item 7_Tobacco Grant Staff Report 2024_241104
Captain Haynes presented the item and provided an overview of the grant.
Councilmembers asked questions and shared comments.
Mayor Carmel opened Public Open Time.
Speaker 1: Steve Stevenson, a boyscout from Almonte Neighborhood.
Communication (via eComment): None.
Mayor Carmel opened public comment. Seeing no one who wished to speak, Mayor Carmel closed public comment.
Mayor Carmel closed Public Open Time.
5 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.
8. Consideration of a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Amendment to the 2024 Depot Café and Bookstore Lease Agreement with Depot Enterprises, formerly Puffin Enterprises.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 24-___.
Item 8 _Depot Lease Amendment and Sublease_241104
Deputy Director of Administration Walsh presented the item and reviewed the highlights associated with the terms of the amendment to the Depot lease agreement. Deputy Director Walsh highlighted the agreement included a partnership with Copperfield Books, a local bookstore chain in Marin County
Mayor Carmel opened Public Open Time.
Speaker 1: Naima Dean, Mill Valley resident.
Communications (via eComment): None.
Mayor Carmel opened public comment. Seeing no one who wished to speak, Mayor Carmel closed public comment.
Mayor Carmel closed Public Open Time.
Councilmembers shared comments related to the agenda item.
Mayor Carmel invited the Copperfield Books team up to say a few words related to taking over the bookstore. The General Manager of Online Sales made comments about the transition.
It was MOVED by Vice Mayor Burke and SECONDED by Councilmember Perrey 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 6:30 p.m. to a Closed Session meeting to be held immediately following the Regular City Council meeting on November 4, 2024, at City Hall.
CLOSED SESSION
A. CLOSED SESSION BUSINESS – Following Public Comment, the City Council will adjourn to Closed Session to consider the following:
6 1A. Public Employee Performance Evaluation: Government Code Section 54957, Title: City Manager
B. ACTION OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
ADJOURNMENT – The next Regular City Council meeting will be held on Monday, November 18, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. in the Mill Valley City Council Chambers.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED BY THE MILL
VALLEY CITY COUNCIL ON DECEMBER 5, 2024
___________________________
Urban Carmel, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Risa De Ferrari, City Clerk